For the individuals of Community Connections, Inc., having a piece of land to cultivate at the Wareham Community Garden is about more than just gardening.

“It gives them a sense of independence and self-worth,” said Karen DuCharme, a developmental specialist aide for the organization. “We try to stick with the season, and [try] new things they would not have otherwise experienced at home.”

The organization provides services throughout the South Coast to people with disabilities, including medical support, life skills, and elder support. The eight-person group who came out Monday morning was just a fraction of the 30 or so individuals from Wareham who help tend the group’s garden.

DuCharme said the group plans to plant a lot of vegetables, because it is a good way to continue the group’s healthy eating education.

“This is a way for them to have a hand in developing the natural products and taking them back to the program and ultimately seeing them go into a healthy dish,” DuCharme said. “They are very excited about it.”

Though the garden will not get underway for another two weeks, the group has already started growing the various vegetables it will be transplanting into the garden. Among the vegetables are white onions, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and jalapeño peppers.

“They’ve grown by leaps and bounds,” DuCharme said of the vegetables. “Now we need a place to put them.

DuCharme said Wareham has been more welcoming to the differently-abled people of Community Connections than others, and that the community’s response has been “heartwarming.”

“Wareham has been very, very nice to us,” DuCharme said. “They’ve been really, really supportive of our entire group.”

Anyone interested in starting a garden can contact Dick Paulsen at 508-291-1639.