Medicinal Garden

In late 2022, local artist and avid gardener Susan Freda, approached WBNA with an idea to create a publicly accessible medicinal garden planted in the shape of a woman. With unused space in front of WBNA headquarters available, Ms. Freda collaborated with Executive Director Siobhan Callahan, to apply for grants and install the garden. While it took longer than expected, the garden is partially installed and ready to be enjoyed by neighbors and the local fauna.

WBNA received funding through the Rhode Island Foundation for a multi-pronged project highlighting Indigenous connections to the land and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Workshops and signage are being planned to reflect this knowledge and encourage more in-depth connection to the space. Looking ahead, Ms. Freda has plans to create a permanent art installation in the garden if funding allows.

During the 2023-24 school year, middle school students in the DownCity Design afterschool program researched, designed, and built a “bug hotel” for the garden to encourage beneficial insects to stay.

FUNDERS

This project has been funded through The Garden Foundation of Rhode Island, individual donors through the state’s nonprofit day of giving, 401Gives, and The Rhode Island Foundation. Plants were generously donated by Central Nurseries and Jacavone Nursery as well as by neighbors.