Tables were overflowing with herbs, pots, soil, and enthusiasm as participants at the June 4 herb dish garden program hosted by the Garden Club of Newtown got down and dirty and created their own gardens and learned how to use herbs in cooking.

The event was held at Newtown Senior Center and was one in the series of Timeless Newtown events that have the goal of promoting intergenerational activities and conversation about nutrition, exercise, creative expression, and the mind/body connection for life.

Thirty people attended the event, which was presented by club members Peggy Townsend and Andrea Zimmermann. Most of the herbs were grown by members, and snacks of quiche, cookies, dip, and other appetizers — all made with fresh herbs — were provided by the club.

Zimmermann, Townsend and fellow garden club member Louise Zierzow started more than 125 herbs for participants to plant and take home to grow on their balconies, patios and window sills.

Some participants shared their own methods for drying, storing, and preserving herbs for winter cooking.

A recipe booklet prepared by Zimmermann was given to each participant as encouragement to use and experiment with herbs in their dish gardens, and to foster interest in creating simple and nutritious meals.

Newtown Garden Club, a member of the Federated Garden Club, welcomes anyone who would like to learn about gardening and floral design, go on field trips to beautiful gardens, make new friends, and help plant and maintain gardens in town including four rows at the Victory Garden.

“Timeless Newtown: Embracing Every Generation” is a 2025 initiative of Friends of Newtown Seniors (FONS) where, in concert with community partners, it strives to counteract the negative attitudes and stereotypes associated with aging.

Built on the absolute understanding that we all age, the program will first attack the negative beliefs internalized by many older adults about what the aging process looks like. The program emphasizes the individual nature of aging and the concept of health span as different from lifespan. Put simply how we each can thrive rather than just survive.

Supporting this discussion of healthy aging will be part two of the program which provides information on the latest research in aging and what simple things people of all ages can do to age in a manner that maintains a high quality of life.

The third part of the program will bring together the information from the first two parts and help dispel ageist views and bring together Newtown residents of every generation in discussions which clarify the value of every age group in our society.

“Timeless Newtown” hopes to be a model for other communities who desire to foster intergenerational activities and conversation about nutrition, exercise, creative expression, and the mind/body connection for life.