“Jardín y Café”: Well-being, Community, and Mental Health in Azalea Park

This morning, at the Engelwood Neighborhood Center in Azalea Park, we held the “Garden and Coffee” activity, a day designed for our seniors to enjoy a space of recreation, learning, and well-being.

Pedro Ayala

8/26/20251 min read

An Experience with the Land and the Senses

During the activity, participants explored our community garden, planted seeds, learned about hydroponic crops, and discovered how to care for plants. In addition, we harvested papayas that each person was able to take home as a symbol of abundance and connection with nature.

Community, Mental Health, and Shared Joy

“Jardín y Café” was much more than gardening: it was a space for gathering and togetherness. We shared coffee, fruit, and sandwiches, played games, and engaged in activities focused on mental and emotional health.

Through direct contact with the soil, hands-on gardening, and social interaction, our seniors strengthened mental and emotional processes, demonstrating that nature is also a source of well-being.

A Project That Keeps Growing

This activity is part of Bosque Comunitario de Fe – Nuestros Bosques, an urban ecological corridor in Azalea Park that seeks to connect sustainability with the well-being of the Latino/Hispanic community.

Between 2025 and 2027, our project will achieve goals such as:

Planting 1,030 trees.
Conserving 150 existing trees.
Carrying out 120 educational workshops, including 12 on mental health.
Training 45 community leaders.
Reaching over 6,000 households in Azalea Park (zip codes 32807 and 32822).

Thanks to Our Seniors

Today we reaffirm that every activity is an opportunity to sow not only plants, but also hope, community, and health. We thank all the seniors who participated and shared their energy and wisdom with us.

Join Us

This event was made possible thanks to the commitment of Christ the King Episcopal Church, Renacer Foundation, Corpus Care, Observatorio Ambiental Hispano, and Calao Corp, who work together in Bosque Comunitario de Fe – Nuestros Bosques, an urban ecological corridor that seeks to transform Azalea Park with more trees, workshops, and community leaders.

You too can be part of this movement for a greener and healthier Azalea Park:

Join our upcoming activities.
Sponsor a tree.
Make a donation and multiply our impact.

Learn more at: www.bcfazalea.org
📹 Watch the video of the activity on Instagram: View post