Hello Everyone,

Some of you on this forum know me and others do not. My name is Carlos Portu and I'm a 4th year medical student at the University of Miami School of Medicine. I also happen to be the Executive Director of the Department of Community Service (DOCS) here at the medical school (www.umdocs.org).

I am currently doing a clinical rotation at our neighboring V.A. Hospital and Nursing Home and have come across an absolutely wonderful program. It is called the Horticulture therapy program and it consists of involving Nursing Home Residents in a number of garden activities and basically is a simplified garden club. The residents run events (like a plant sale, etc) and different garden special occasions. It functions in some very important ways... it promotes a sense of self worth, it allows residents to regain some sense of normalcy, it provides good exercise and improves mental health, etc etc. If only you could see how proud these folks are of their garden!

In fact, here is a website created by one of the residents:

http://va_garden_club.tripod.com/home.html

When I first saw this program, I instantly thought of how wonderful a response this program would garner from the members of Garden Web. I have known you all to be increadibly generous and felt as though this would be a nice way to give to these increadibly deserving veterans.

I know that soliciting donations on this forum is against the rules, so to that end.... If anyone sends in a donation of seeds for the VA, I will try to keep track of your name and information and re-imburse you from my own collection of heirloom tomato seeds at the end of the growing season (sometime in March or early April). I have about 42 varieties this year (from dwarfs to large indeterminates), but cannot guarantee the species or quantity of seed you will receive... especially since I haven't even grown them yet!

Regardless, I think any kind of contribution you might be able to make (even whatever excess of something you might have) would be greatly appreciated.

You can mail the seeds or plants by any means you please to the following address:

Department of Community Service, Attn: Carlos Portu

Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

University of Miami

P.O. Box 016960 (R-59)

Miami, FL 33101

If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to drop me an email.

Thanks Again,

Carlos Portu-