Associated Students’ Community Affairs Board collaborated with the Edible Campus Program to host “Seniors & Soil” on Feb. 21. Student volunteers spent the afternoon crafting elevated garden beds for residents living at the Friendship Manor retirement community. 

Student volunteers spent the afternoon crafting elevated garden beds for residents living at the Friendship Manor retirement community. Elijah Obando / Daily Nexus

The Community Affairs Board (C.A.B.) aims to make gardening accessible for seniors with mobility issues through the creation of elevated garden beds. The new beds were also meant to replace many preexisting ones that were old and damaged.

According to Ben Wollack, a third-year environmental studies major and the senior citizen coordinator for C.A.B., the event was used to rebuild the lost “green space” that occurred after UC Santa Barbara bought the plot of land that lies between Friendship Manor and Tropicana Gardens. 

“This used to be a plot where the Friendship Manor seniors could just hang around outside, and they had garden beds around here,” Wollack said. “The seniors didn’t really get a say in this choice, so when they heard about [the purchase of the plot of land], they were really upset.” 

Student volunteers pose with the completed garden beds. Courtesy of Ben Wollack

A Friendship Manor newsletter sent out in January clarified that the plot of land was never an official part of Friendship Manor. 

Bob Risser, a resident at Friendship Manor, showed his appreciation for the students who volunteered. 

“[The students,] that’s the best part. They’re all good. I’m glad that they all came and showed up because that was a good thing,” Risser said. 

A version of this article appeared on p. 6 of the Feb. 26,  edition of the Daily Nexus.