ESTABLISHING A VEGETABLE GARDEN AT A CARE HOME FOR THE ELDERLY: SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, REUSE OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE, AND WELL-BEING PROMOTION

Abstract

This article analyzes the implementation of a vertical garden at a care home for the elderly in Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, integrating sustainable agriculture practices, the reuse of construction waste, and the promotion of resident well-being. Grounded in frameworks regarding environmental rationality, urban agriculture, active aging, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the study is characterized as applied, qualitative, and descriptive-exploratory research. The intervention involved assessing the institutional space, collaborative planning, repurposing materials (PVC pipes, empty paint buckets, broken bricks), constructing the vertical garden structure, and planting vegetables, alongside photographic documentation and the collection of feedback from the care home staff. The results indicate that the vertical garden contributed to waste reuse, the production of food free from toxic inputs, and expanded opportunities for interaction and meaningful activities between the elderly residents and their caregivers. The study also highlighted limitations related to the target population's vulnerability, scheduling conflicts with the academic team, and reliance on the institution for the garden's ongoing maintenance. It concludes that small-scale sustainable interventions—planned participatively and adapted to local conditions—can serve as tools for environmental education, social interaction, and health promotion in care homes, with the potential for replication in other contexts.