Norma Simmons

Norma Simmons started the ACCESS garden in 2003, a nonpro t program offering full-time education, therapy, and training for children with developmental disabilities. The students, ages 7–16, grow a variety of  owers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables from cuttings, seeds, and small plugs. Then they host garden sales for the school and community, while learning customer service skills, reading, writing, use of currency, and math. The raised beds in the 3,364-square- foot greenhouse make gardening more accessible for these special-needs students who would otherwise not be able to experience horticulture and caring for plants. Making worm tea is another popular activity. The HydroCycle Vertical System, which Simmons initiated  ve years ago, is also accessible by all, rewarding the student gardeners with plants growing 30–50 percent faster than traditional growing methods.