MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee was at the Mariucci Family Beacon House earlier today, *planting* some new projects. Beautifying Marquette made its way on Thursday to the Mariucci Family Beacon house. Volunteers were trimming up the bushes and planting flowers and even a new herbs and spices garden.
“Two things are happening they’re planting our flower beds but they’re also planting herb gardens for us,” commented Mariucci Family Beacon House CEO Mary Tavernini Dowling.
The Herb gardens were placed outside the kitchen door, along 7th St. Guests and residents of the Mariucci Family Beacon House can enjoy everything from basil, parsley, and mint to rosemary and thyme less than 10 ft. away from the stove.
“We have Russian tarragon and French tarragon and two different kinds of parsley and we have one kind of sage in here and we even have mojito mint,” commented Marquette Beautification and Restoration Chair Person Barb Kelly.
According to the National Institute of Health, similar spices like rosemary and basil are known to help with inflammation and indigestion. The Beacon House says the summer was the perfect time to put the herb garden into action. “You know if each one of us just saw a need and then filled that need and didn’t say ‘Well I guess someone else will have to take care of that or gee I hope someone helps those people, I think we all just say ‘No let’s be those people, let’s help those people ourselves,” continued Tavernini Dowling.
Residents might be far away from home, or visiting a loved one going through medical treatment and volunteers said that sometimes these aromas from herb gardens can spark memories of being home.
“What we do here at Beacon House is we just try to create a loving, caring environment where people can stay right here at the hospital that’s why we do what we do,” said Tavernini Dowling.
“When you have fresh mint in your lemonade where you crush it or basil is great it just brings the senses alive and it makes you salivate and that actually helps you with your digestion,” commented Marquette Beautification and Restoration committee Gisele Duhring.
Beacon House officials are excited to use the produce grown right outside the kitchen and hope to begin educating young residents on gardening.
