The Mijas Town Hall is handing over eight new plots of urban allotments to senior citizens who were on the waiting list. The councillor for Senior Citizens, Tamara Vera (PSOE), today handed over five contracts in Las Lagunas and three in La Cala. The aim is that the older people of the municipality can enjoy active ageing as well as leisure and socialising with other neighbours. "Firstly, they are doing a sporting activity, as they are tilling the land or cultivating crops, and what better than seeing something grow that they have planted themselves, which they can then take home and enjoy. And, secondly, of course, something that we think is also very important is the coexistence between our elders. Something that is very positive and very nice", explained the councillor.

Many of these users arrive without knowing anything about the countryside or farming, but they help each other, which also creates new friendships. "I've been looking forward to this for a while and I'm really looking forward to it, as a neighbour who lives near me was the one who got me interested in the vegetable garden because he had a bad knee and I came to help him, so I know how it works and the truth is that I really wanted to have it", said Tomás López. For her part, another of the users, Alfonsa Navarro, said that "I love the garden. Every time I saw one, I would stare at it and say: 'well, if this isn't mine, what am I doing here? well, I liked to see it and now I'm delighted to have my own'. 

It is also a healing therapy for other users, as in the case of Concepción Bonilla, who comes with her husband who suffers from Alzheimer's: "the truth is that yes, it is a sanatorium, because he is there with the dog and doesn't move from my side. I take him with me and bring him back and forth and ask him to do things and the truth is that he does everything, so I can distract myself too". 

Submitting applications

Those interested in acquiring an urban garden can submit their application to join the waiting list at the Department of the Elderly and submit it through the registry. "There is a large list of all the elderly who want to get a garden and I would also like to encourage all those who are watching us and tell those who are retired, in possession of our pensioner's card, to come to the office of the Third Age and submit their application," concluded Vera.

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