To promote healthy living among underserved populations in North Carolina through hands-on, integrated, community-focused initiatives.
We envision communities engaging in healthy living practices as part of the fabric of their daily lives. We aim to achieve this vision through:
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Creating welcoming and healing places where communities may connect and thrive
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Offering programs that promote healthy behaviors
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Building partnerships to strengthen community cohesion
We design and deliver community-backed, intentional, and impactful programs. Our mission-driven efforts are grounded in responsible innovation and a focus on measurable outcomes. We build trust with stakeholders by maintaining transparency, clear communication, and commitment toward achieving shared objectives.
How we do it
We transform spaces into ecosystems of wellness
Vacant lots, schoolyards, community centers, and even underused farmland become active, intentional spaces for healing, growth, and connection. Every garden is uniquely designed to reflect and serve its surrounding community—especially those historically underserved or experiencing barriers to health and wellness. While garden beds may grow vegetables, what truly flourishes are relationships, life skills, and a renewed sense of hope. These aren’t just gardens—they are ecosystems of care, shaped by the Biopsychosocial-Ecological (BPSE) model and built for long-term impact.
Wellness Gardens of Aurora
We embed AmeriCorps Wellness Corps members in local communities
Through our AmeriCorps partnership, we place Wellness Corps members directly at host sites—including community gardens, schools, transitional housing, and therapeutic farms—where they provide critical support in garden operations, programming, volunteer engagement, and outreach. These members help lead gardening workshops, wellness events, and creative expression activities tailored to the needs of each community.
We cultivate whole-person wellness through hands-on nature-based learning
Our gardens are living classrooms—places where people of all ages and backgrounds come to learn by doing. From seasonal gardening to outdoor cooking classes, from tai chi sessions to garden-based art and journaling workshops, we offer diverse, inclusive activities that integrate physical movement, creative expression, mindfulness, and nutrition. These activities are all rooted in our evidence-based wellness model that recognizes the interconnection between body, mind, spirit, and environment. We even write books!
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We nurture community ownership and long-term sustainability
We work closely with schools, nonprofits, and local leaders to ensure each garden becomes a true community asset. We provide training and mentorship for volunteers, co-develop educational curricula, and help design programming that can be sustained long after the initial build. Our goal is not just to plant seeds, but to grow lasting roots.
Our roots are in research
At Pamlico Rose, our approach is guided by the Biopsychosocial-Ecological (BPSE) Model of Health, a framework that recognizes how individual well-being is shaped by the dynamic interplay between biology, psychology, relationships, and the environment. Our wellness gardens put this model into practice, offering spaces where people can connect with nature, move their bodies, express themselves, and grow together in community.
Our journey
Pamlico Rose Institute began by serving women Veterans through trauma-informed wellness programming. What we learned through that work that featured the power of nature, community, and storytelling has shaped the foundation of our broader mission today. We’ve expanded our roots, but our commitment remains: to grow spaces that help people heal, connect, and thrive.
Some of Our Wellness Gardeners
Pamlico Rose Institute
Street Address: 150 W Main St, Washington, NC 27889
Mailing Address: 7532 Hollindale Ct, Alexandria, VA 22306
Email: Robert@PamlicoRose.org
Phone Number: 805-320-2967
Contact Us
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