Harvesting Decades of Gardening Wisdom: the Keen Gardeners Group 2025
Date and Time
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Theme / Track
Climate, our environment and nutrition
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Older adults hold deep experiential knowledge that is frequently overlooked, contributing to ageism and social isolation. At the same time, many older people—particularly women and renters—are disproportionately affected by loneliness and rising living costs. Gardening offers an accessible activity that supports physical health, mental wellbeing, food security, and social connection.
This poster presents the Keen Gardeners Group, a co‑created initiative established in March 2025 at the University of Auckland to honour the wisdom of older gardeners and share that knowledge with younger generations. Supported by the Office for Seniors Age Friendly Fund, the group ranged in age from 20s to 70s and positioned older gardeners as experts and educators. Using co-creation method, the project involved regular gatherings and public workshops focused on practical gardening skills. A key focus was the collective creation of accessible gardening resources that captured decades of experiential knowledge.
The Keen Gardeners Group demonstrates how valuing older people’s lived expertise challenges ageism, strengthen community connections, and supports agency in ageing.
Reflective evaluation highlighted strong alignment with WHO Age‑Friendly Cities domains, particularly social participation, respect and social inclusion, communication and information. Beyond anticipated outcomes, the project revealed the central role of fun and friendship and the importance of beauty.
The Keen Gardeners demonstrates how co‑created community practice can reframe later life as a period of opportunity, leadership, and contribution. It offers practical insights for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers seeking to advance The Ageing Revolution.
Keywords
Community, Loneliness, Social Isolation, Wellness / Well Being
Authors
Dr Lisa Williams
Professor Melody Smith, University of Auckland