Gardening Enriches Life at Perham Living

Resident choice is a way of life at Perham Living. Whether it’s choosing how to spend the day, deciding what to plant in the courtyard gardens, or taking part in community outings, residents have the freedom to shape their routines and pursue the activities they enjoy most.

Cyril Palubicki and Harry Schossow

“Perham Living’s leadership puts our residents’ quality of life as a priority. We have both directors and managers who are responsible for our residents’ quality of life and engagement. A good quality of life is residents being able to make their own choices, enjoying the things they like to do, along with making special relationships and bonds with other people—staff, residents, volunteers, families, and visitors,” says Andrea Zetah, Quality of Life/Assistant Administrator.

For Cyril Palubicki, Wayne Quittschreiber, and Harry Schossow, that means spending time with their hands in the soil, tending to the vegetable gardens in the courtyard.

These three avid gardeners take pride in growing produce that’s shared with other residents and incorporated into meals. The gardens are more than a source of fresh food—they’re a space for connection, fresh air, and purpose.

“We have mostly vegetables—tomatoes, onions, carrots, peppers—and this year everything is just going wild. I think it’s because I sing to it,” Cyril adds with a smile.

“We start some things from seed and others from plants, but we all decide together what goes in. The garden has been especially good this year. The raised garden beds make it easier for everyone to participate, and planting day is a highlight each spring,” says Harry.

“We planted more as a group this year, and it was a fun day,” says Alaina Ard, Household Coordinator. “A lot of residents helped plant things in the courtyard.”

Cyril keeps a close eye on the tomatoes—six or seven varieties in all, including a special “hillbilly tomato” that’s producing impressively.

Wayne Quittschreiber, Resident

“I like to watch things grow,” Wayne says. “I probably spend more time outside than anybody else here—maybe four times a day. I love talking to people when they stop by, and there’s always something to do in the garden.”

Cyril tends not only vegetables but also a thriving grapevine planted by his stepdaughter three years ago. “It’s doing wonderfully,” he says. “We’ll have grapes by the first frost. The secret is to trim them back for better quality.”

The produce they harvest goes straight to the kitchen, where it’s used in resident meals—everything from fresh tomato slices to stir fry made with peppers, cabbage, carrots, and onions from the garden. “A lot of people enjoy eating the fresh tomatoes as soon as they’re ready,” Alaina says. “The lettuce was already harvested, and now we’re waiting for cucumbers to ripen.”

While gardening is a favorite for Cyril, Wayne, and Harry, Alaina emphasizes that the real value lies in giving residents the freedom to choose how they spend their time. “My role is to focus on residents’ quality of life, making sure they’re happy and content,” she says. “We have group activities like happy hour, music, outings, and celebrations, but also a lot of individualized activities so people can do the things that matter most to them.”

Cyril Palubicki, Resident

For Wayne, that might mean a fishing trip on Detroit Lake. For Cyril, it’s time in the courtyard. For Harry, it’s heading to the fair with a friend. All agree that having a say in their daily lives makes a difference.

“If you’re going to be in a nursing home, you won’t find better than this,” Wayne says. “There are lots of activities, but I like that I can spend my time outside if I want to.”

Cyril values the atmosphere as much as the activities. “There’s always something to do if you want to, and you can do as much as you’re able. It keeps you busy, and you don’t have to sit around.”

Harry sums it up: “I think it’s good the way it is—everybody does a little bit, and those who just want to enjoy it can sit in the courtyard and take it all in.”

At Perham Living, the gardens are a shared space, but the benefits are personal. Residents not only help decide what to plant but also experience the satisfaction of watching it grow, harvesting it, and sharing it with their community.

“Choice means residents feel ownership in what happens here,” Alaina says. “The gardens are a perfect example—they’re beautiful, productive, and lovingly cared for by the people who tend them.”