BALCONY PLANTER SOCIAL R1-NSG-25-1-067
Project leader Lisa Wang.
Held: 28TH JUNE 2025
BRIEFLY EXPLAIN YOUR PROJECT:-
We wanted to connect neighbours by holding a social and giving out small balcony plants with the idea that many lonely seniors in and around our complex would like to beautify their balconies and meet other like-minded neighbours for a bite and chat. We hoped that a common interest like planters would attract the diverse people in our community and help them to meet one another.
DID YOU ACHIEVE WHAT YOU SET OUT TO DO?
We feel we did that and more, as around 40 people came throughout the afternoon and ate most of the food provided. We were left with some soft drinks. A variety of ethnic groups came and mixed with the elderly and younger neighbours. The plants provided a focus for people to gather and select plants while casually meeting other people they otherwise would not have had the opportunity to meet.
WERE THERE ANY SURPRISES?
We expected more people to have coffee and tea as it was an afternoon event but most went for the cold beverages. We also expected people to contribute snacks, whereas only one person brought scones and cream cheese.
We could possibly have had a greater variety of plants such as more shade plants. A further consideration would have been to provide some planters, but that would have increased our budget beyond its limit. We could also have used a designated photographer.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE PROCESS?
Both the project leaders were kept very busy. Shopping. Setting up the room and displaying the plants. It was a lot of work, as was the clean-up. We would organize more helpers for future events. Other ideas would be to expand to a car wash or lawn games, as there is space for both.
SHARE A MEMORABLE MOMENT
Towards the end when we were already washing some dishes a small group of elderly women who were all using walkers were still sitting and chatting together. As we had the room till 10pm, we encouraged them to visit and just kept putting snacks on their table.
