Adaptive Gardens of the Lowcountry grew from two key ideas:
- That a passion for gardening coupled with horticultural therapy could be used to enrich the lives of people in our community
- That non-profits and businesses can develop symbiotic relationships, called social enterprises, and benefit all involved
From these ideas, horticultural therapists Catherine McGuinn and Leslie Wade, have teamed with Maria Baldwin and Megan Moore at Our Local Foods, LLC and Thornhill Farm in a program where special needs classes from Charleston area high schools come to Thornhill farm each week so the students can learn gardening and other skills for everyday life.
Our Team
Catherine Palumbo McGuinn
Catherine McGuinn has been a Horticultural Therapist since 1999 and holds a master’s degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Horticulture, focusing on Horticultural Therapy. She holds a Bachelors of Science Degree from North Carolina State University in Conservation, from the College of Forestry as well as a teaching credential in adaptive physical education from the University of California at Davis and a current SC teaching Credential in Horticulture. Catherine has worked with individuals from 2 to 92 with many different abilities and disabilities. Her research on Horticultural Therapy was published in the journal HortTechnology in 2001. Catherine leads the day-to-day horticultural therapy activities at Adaptive Gardens, and can be contacted at catherine@adaptivegardens.org.
Leslie Wade
After graduating with a B.S. in Horticulture from Virginia Tech, Leslie Wade moved to Wilmington, NC to work at the Pender Correctional Institution. As part of their rehabilitation, developmentally delayed inmates were offered a horticultural therapy day program which focused on cognitive, vocational and social skills. Other than developing these skills, Leslie was impressed that the prison made sure the inmates ate the vegetables and fruits they grew in the program, ensuring more nutritious diets for the men.
Once her contract was complete at the prison, Leslie moved into the restaurant business to follow her interest in food. Managing restaurants in Wrightsville Beach and Charleston for ten years, gave her an inside look at the food we feed our bodies, both as children and adults. Through these years, Leslie continued to volunteer with organizations that focused on teaching children how to grow plants and eat well through the things we grow.
Adaptive Gardens of the Lowcountry lured her back into the horticulture scene and has presented an opportunity to work with children. At the same time, Our Local Foods focuses on a strong belief of Leslie’s that putting fresh, local, organic items on the table should be a staple of every community. Leslie can be reached at leslie@adaptivegardens.org.
Learn More
If you are interested in learning more about, or supporting the work of, Adaptive Gardens, please contact us, or the Coastal Community Foundation in Charleston, SC.
Adaptive Gardens of the Lowcountry
10822 Highway 17 North
McClellanville, SC 29458
(843) 887-3500
