Through day trips into nature, garden projects, & GreenFingers Project, women and men have a chance to experience new learning, the welcome of community and enjoy the peacefulness of the natural world. The experiences are simple and yet profound. People’s lives are touched, spirits renewed, their bodies relaxed.

GreenFingers is a micro-economic development program created by EarthLinks to benefit homeless and low-income persons. Participants can participate in one or all of the three components of the project:

• GreenFingers Workshops in which participants grow the plants in a local GreenFingers Peace garden, then use  the garden’s abundance to create products available for sale. These project artists earn a modest wage and acquire job skills, plus an enhanced ability for socialization. Through such activity, they gradually develop self-esteem, find opportunity to appreciate natural beauty, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.
• The Floral Design Course is a 36-unit course culminating in an apprenticeship for all participants.  The course is taught by a professional florist and is offered for free.   Participants learn various skills include making centerpieces, European Hand Tied bouquets, funeral arrangements, wedding bouquets, corsages, and wreaths.  In addition, they also learn how to take orders, make a personal portfolio, and apply for jobs.  Upon graduation, each participant will be equipped with professional tools and knowledge to work in the floral industry.
• A weekly Artists’ Workshop allows participants to learn and experiment in many new art mediums including potpourri making, colored pencil sketching, paper making, gourd decorating, print making, wreathing making, painting, and others.  The workshop is intended to let participants use their creativity and to expand their artistic abilities.

Our Garden Projects work with people at risk to cultivate gardens, providing an essential grounding experience that confers a sense of place and self- worth to lives that are often fragmented.  Our gardens range from community gardens in downtown Denver, to plots in the backyards of residential programs.  The external activities in the garden mirror the transformation happening within participants’ inner lives.

Day Trips into Nature offer time away from everyday struggles and concerns by providing experiences in the city parks and in the mountains. Participants’ vision of the world and their part in it can grow, renewing their energy, their sense of connection, and their dignity. These revitalizing trips can help to enable participants to return refreshed and better able to face some of the chaos and challenges of life.