Rockin' Aphasia
An aphasia podcast - designed, recorded and edited by people with aphasia and their families. Episodes are recorded on location - out and about in western Wisconsin and beyond. Podcasters are individuals with aphasia and their families and friends who are part of the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network and BluGold Aphasia Group at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Rockin' Aphasia
The Cantaloupes...they were rotten!
Welcome back to Rockin’ Aphasia - Episode #2! In this episode, the Blugold Aphasia Group takes a trip to the community garden. The group shares memories and stories about the hard work they have put into the garden - including cantaloupes! You will also hear from group members Robert and Rita and their journey living with aphasia. Lastly, the Blugold Aphasia Group recites a poem about gardening and aphasia written by fellow group member Rochelle Anderson. You can find Rochelle’s poem linked below and read along as aphasia group members read the poem aloud. You can also find a few pictures of our community garden plot here.
Gardening Journey - by Rochelle Anderson
Plants and seeds looking for sprouting deliverance, surrounded by chicken wire
Tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuce, squash in the nourishing soil
Onions underneath dirt are dragons anticipating freedom
Conversation outside, working together, camaraderie. Joking, laughing, smiling
Many weeds in the garden’s path are a storm battering the port
Aphasia is a weed, toiling and struggling to remove, but always coming back
The antlered deer eating the garden is aphasia stealing your purpose
A vegetable garden with no sun or water is aphasia changing your life
Gardening in a group with friends, enjoying their lives, sharing stories
Smell the pungent onions, savor the red, juicy tomatoes, feel the leafy lettuce
Crisp, flavorful and fresh on your palate is the full-spectrum rainbow
Starting barren, scenery explodes and nature shows its wonder
Suddenly autumn. Waiting for spring’s rebirth, memories abound
----Rochelle M. Anderson
For more information about the collaborative community garden, you can read the article here.
For more information about aphasia group collaborations in western Wisconsin - you can check out the the UW-Eau Claire CSD department and the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network website.