Apiary
There are hives on the Medford campus maintained by beekeeper Corey Melissas, daughter of the late Mickey Gray, who was a resident at Medford Leas. Honey from the hives is available.
Birders
Courtyard Mapping
The drawings that identify the plants in Courtyard Gardens and the Atrium are prepared by residents.
Farm
“The Farm” is the Medford Leas community garden. It gives residents the opportunity to have and tend their own gardens. Plots of all sizes are available so that gardens can be as large or small as a resident wishes. All sorts of vegetables, flowers, and sometimes fruit can be found growing at The Farm. It was enclosed by a deer fence in 2019. There are also ‘table-top’ raised beds, located on one of the tennis courts by the Nature Center. These ‘table-tops’ provide those with mobility issues the opportunity to garden.
Haddon Greenhouse
The greenhouse, open from mid-October through mid-May, provides a place for residents to overwinter their potted plants. Once in the greenhouse, the care of the plants is up to the individual residents. Materials are provided for tending, fertilizing, and repotting plants. The chairs oversee the running of the greenhouse, including the intake of residents’ plants. The greenhouse also provides a wonderful place for all members of the Medford Leas community to visit.
Lumberton Trails & Site
The Committee assists the Medford Leas Administration through resident volunteer work and by bringing issues to the attention of management. There are three subcommittees: Trail Maintenance, Community Garden, and Meadow.
Plant Sale
The Plant Sale takes place the week before Mothers Day in the main parking lot carport, which gives the event a farm stand atmosphere. Offered are bedding plants, potted flowers, hanging baskets, vegetables, herbs and often some surprises. The sale affords our residents the opportunity to purchase a variety of plants right on campus, which is especially convenient for those with mobility or transportation issues. Funds raised from the sales allow the Plant Sale Committee to make generous gifts to the Employee Appreciation Fund and the Resident Assistace Fund.
Woodlands/Trails
The Woodlands/Trails Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m. in the Lois Forrest Nature Center. The group:
- Installs and maintains trail markers.
- Clears fallen branches or trees, trims back intruding overgrowth and invasive vegetation, and weed-whacks skunk cabbage in the wetlands trail segments.
- Repositions plank bridges after floods and repairs or replaces benches along the trails.
- Collaborates with community groups wishing to provide volunteer services and acts as guides for groups wishing to explore our trails (Scouts, school groups, etc).
- Facilitates and coordinates efforts of Scout troops to perform community service projects in pursuit of Merit Badges, and for Eagle Scout candidates to complete requirements for the Eagle Scout rank.
- Installs and removes deer protection screening around vulnerable trees identified by our arborist, Ken Hutz.
- Reports to and coordinates activities with the Arboretum Oversight Committee.
In the private, password-protected directory, the MLRA Activities List and LCRA Committees List provide contact information for these activities.