FARMINGTON — “Stone Soup is a place for people of all abilities to learn about gardening, wellness, nature, accessibility and themselves,” Life Enrichment Advancing People’s executive director, Darryl Wood, said.

The gardens and nature trails, which are located on LEAP’s Oliver House property off of Farmington Falls Road, began as a collaboration between LEAP and the University of Maine at Farmington in 2008.

“A few things were done, but it never really took off,” Wood said.

In 2011, the property was developed as a wellness trail for LEAP employees.

“I discovered there were a lot of unique features to the property up there,” Wood said. “It was an opportunity for wellness and developing fresh local food.”

Carlene Wilbur, who retired two years ago as LEAP’s human resources director, became a full volunteer partner. Wood explained that he was primarily working on the trails, and when Wilbur retired, “she had a lot of time and had some good resources and people to tend to the gardens.”

The project evolved, and the trails and gardens became not only something fit people could enjoy, but those with disabilities as well, Wood said.

Conrad Bailey volunteered to help out by haying and spreading manure. Bill Rosa helped provide goat manure to enrich the gardens as well.

There are raised gardens, which people using wheelchairs can easily tend, and community gardens that are tilled and fertilized. The half-mile fitness trail starts at the gardens and loops through the woods before returning to the gardens. There are exercise stations along the trail that were constructed by Foster Career and Technical Education Center students.

“Everything is laid out so that the station itself sits into a piece of the forest as naturally as possible,” Wood said.

Wood showed the pumpkin patch and noted that the corn is doing well in one of the gardens. A shared field is used for haying.

Not only are there container gardens with raised beds, but nearby posts with arm bands allow those using wheelchairs to do arm exercises. Wood pointed out the vegetable garden, which has all kinds of tasty and healthy vegetables in it. A group of volunteers and Upward Bound students help tend it.

A perennial bed of flowers was set up by Carol Chase of Bass Hill Gardens in Wilton, he said.

The fitness trail starts at the gardens and heads into the woods. The first station on the fitness trail is a stretching station with UV-resistant bands. Along the way, people can view an old rock spring built in the 1800s.

Later on the trail, there is a strength station by a ledgy area. At the next station, people can boost their heart rate and fitness with jumping jacks and a jump rope.

Higher up, the trail forks, with one trail leading left back to the gardens. The right trail meanders through an old apple orchard. LEAP got a Project Canopy grant to clear out old trees and plant new honeycrisp apple trees, Wood said.

“We’re going to make the terrain firm and hard to make the terrain accessible to pick your own (apples), for people of all abilities,” Wood said.

He mentioned that Foster Tech students would be working on a stewardship management plan in the fall with forester Bob Carlton.

“It’s a really good education for them,” he said. “We get our work done for free to benefit the community.”

The trail heads slightly downhill and abruptly breaks out of the woods to a scenic view of the Sandy River valley. There, another station provides an opportunity for people to get their breathing under control, collect their thoughts and think about how people with disabilities live their lives.

“Life can be a challenge for all of us. It’s a real challenge for people with disabilities,” Wood said. “It ties back to LEAP in a way, but it gives the community fodder for thought, if you will.”

He said he was grateful for all those that have helped the project come to fruition. United Way of the Tri Valley Area has sent people over to volunteer, and the UMF women’s lacrosse team also has helped with the trails and gardens.

The last part of the project is the signage for the trails. Wood said that LEAP is hoping to have a grand opening of the trails and will be holding a “Run, Walk, Roll” event as an opportunity to introduce people to the trails.

“My hope is developing a few core people who enjoy it and other folks who stop by once in a while,” he said.

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