Master Gardener Profile

Teamwork is alive and productive at Community Hospice House (CHH), a service of Home Health & Hospice Care, in Merrimack NH, thanks to UNH Extension Master Gardeners (MGs). Jean Abramson and Barb Young lead a team of 10 MGs and 12 other garden helpers. Jean and Barb have each logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours in recent years, with other volunteers reporting 2,000 hours in 2025.      

“Barb and I work collaboratively,” says Jean, “and we both do some of everything. In general, I provide leadership and administrative support for our work team, while Barb focuses on garden coaching, design and teaching.” 

Jean began with CHH in 2005. Professionally, she was an ambulatory health care administrator with advanced degrees in business and social work. She began “working with patients inside hospice house.” She gained “appreciation of the healing impact of the gardens” when in 2007 her mother-in-law became a hospice patient. 

In 2019, Jean was part of a small garden team when a supervisor asked her to take the lead. She enrolled in the UNH Extension MG program “where my knowledge and passion blossomed.” 

Barb was in the MG class of 2008. A few years later she trained with garden experts to start a garden coaching and design firm. After retiring in 2023, she focused her gardening expertise on CHH working “closely with Jean to identify ways to renovate and rejuvenate the ornamental gardens.” In winter, she starts plants from seed and cuttings, grows bulbs, and prepares perennial plugs for CHH’s annual plant sale to benefit the garden program. This year’s sale is scheduled for May 30, 2026. In her spare time, Barb works in her home garden, the site of frequent garden tours.      

Community Hospice House was built 25 years ago and has 16 patient rooms, 32 garden beds on four acres. The building was expanded in 2023, resulting in more garden areas that were developed by the volunteers. No operating funds are used for the CHH gardens, which are “supported solely by donations, grants, a plant and allium bulb sale,” and two grants from the NH Master Gardener Alumni Association (NHMGAA). “Barb and I collaborate on grant writing and major initiatives,” says Jean.     

One of the duo’s goals was to build upon original designs to “enhance each garden's ability to support wildlife through the seasons.” They also incorporated compatible, native plants and emphasized plant density replacing bark mulch with organic leaf compost. Barb’s professional relationship with New Hampshire's wholesale plant growers and nurseries allowed them to purchase high quality, native trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses at reduced prices.   

“The most meaningful part of our efforts is being in the gardens with patients and family members,” Jean says. She has “made many beautiful connections, through these challenging times, with people at the end of their lives and with their loved ones.” Barb adds, “Whether it be the calming influence of the gardens, or the vibrant life that abounds daily, every person finds their own connection and deeper appreciation for the natural world. Being part of creating an incredibly comforting environment has been extremely rewarding and a highlight of my gardening career.” 

The Community Hospice House staff is so appreciative of the contributions that Jean, Barb and the other volunteers make to the gardens and the wellbeing of the clients, that they nominated the team which received a Spirit of NH Award through Volunteer NH. The gardens were also featured on the NH Chronicle show.