Flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables await to delight the senses at the new sensory garden at the Wheatley Farms & Arts Center in Brookville.

Opened on May 21, Wheatley Farms’ Outdoor Learning Garden was made possible by a generous $15,000 donation from the North Woodmere/Valley Stream Auxiliary of AHRC Nassau. This dedicated group, with deep roots in the AHRC community, has supported the organization for decades through consistent and meaningful fundraising efforts.

Special thanks to Auxiliary members Martha Carney and Joan Crane, Co-Presidents; Linda McDonald, Treasurer; and Harietta Traversa and Dawn Tortora-Morici, AHRC Nassau Board Members. These longstanding Auxiliary members bring personal commitment and active involvement to their advocacy, helping further AHRC’s mission every day.

“I had a brother John Ingrassia, who worked at the Freeport workshop. He loved it there,” said Linda. “That’s why I got involved—because of him. So, I’ve been involved with AHRC for many years, even before the Auxiliary.”

Thanks to the Auxiliary’s generosity and ongoing efforts, the sensory garden will grow into a vibrant space for building friendships, learning new skills, and creating lasting memories.

Plots of basil, marigolds, strawberries, lavender, and daisies will now be tended to by people supported by AHRC Nassau’s Program Without Walls (PWW) locations in Freeport and Brookville, as well as students at Brookville Center for Children’s Services. The sensory garden will offer opportunities to develop new skills and make new connections.

Sensory garden trainings and events are currently in development, and will use the beauty of the space to create educational and wellness initiatives, inspiring deeper connections to nature as well as opportunities to learn new things about themselves.

“As you will soon see, smell, and touch, the garden will provide a variety of experiences including sensory exploration, small group lessons, and seasonal plants and projects,” said Pamela Curtiss, Assistant Director of Social Enterprises. “We’re excited to continue building partnerships to maximize the potential of our garden.”

For more information, stay tuned to Wheatley Farms & Arts Center on Instagram.