Sustainability at Barclay Friends

Living in Harmony with Nature


At Barclay Friends, we know our eco-friendly practices will not only improve our local environment but have an impact well beyond our award-winning senior living community. Initiatives include a sustainable approach to farm-to-table dining, energy conservation, recycling and continuing education through lectures, activities and committee work.

Green is Our Favorite Color

We’ve been green for a long time. Our community has a full-time horticulture therapist that works with residents to plant springtime flowers. In the summer, they grow vegetables which then become ingredients for our cooking classes and are donated to the Chester County food bank.

We  do not use pesticides or herbicides on our lawns. Residents enjoy several gardens throughout the community which offer a self-sustaining koi pond. raised garden beds, and gazebos.

Horticultural Therapy at Barclay Friends


Gardening is not just good for the environment. There are many physical, emotional and therapeutic benefits to gardening. A sensory stimulation garden features raised flower beds for assisted living and memory care residents to cultivate and nurture. Therapeutic gardening at Barclay Friends instills a sense of purpose and accomplishment in those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Horticulture therapist works toward sustainability initiatives

Every Day is Earth Day at Barclay Friends


While sustainability is a community priority all year long, in celebration of Earth Day, we engage in trivia games and educational videos. Barclay Friends horticulturalist leads our Arbor and Earth Day Seeding Program, educating residents on successful food production methods.  They also cultivate a variety of fruits and vegetables for residents to enjoy while exploring the garden.

Recycle. Reduce. Reuse. Repeat.

Recycling and reducing waste is a community-wide initiative at Barclay Friends. Residents and staff work together to provide convenient ways to reduce, reuse and recycle everyday items.

  • Composting: Yard and food waste is composted at our community to be used in our gardens.
  • Electronics: We recycle electronics including media players, computers, cables, printers and rechargeable batteries.
  • Recycling: Cans, bottles, glass, paper/cardboard and plastic film are all collected and recycled.
  • Fabric Recycling:  Worn fabrics, such as old towels and clothing are used for crafts and other projects.

conserving energy icon for sustainability

Conserving Energy is a Bright Idea

One of our goals is to reduce our community’s carbon footprint through more responsible energy usage. At Barclay Friends, all our HVAC systems are automated, so we do not cool or heat areas unnecessarily. We also integrated automated lighting systems at Preston Assisted Living and Memory Care in support of green initiatives.  

Sustainable Walkways


As part of our commitment to sustainability, we are using PerkEpave instead of concrete for our new memory care garden. PerkEpave is an environmentally friendly alternative that reduces water runoff, promotes groundwater recharge, and provides a durable surface. This innovative solution aligns with our mission to create a greener and more sustainable community for residents and staff.

Some perks of PerkEpave

  • Highly Absorbent and Versatile: Some advantages of PerkEpave are its high porosity and exceptional flexibility.
  • Eco-Friendly Solution: This environmentally friendly product reuses scrap tires.
  • Budget-Friendly: It is a cost-effective option.
  • Durable and Low Maintenance: It offers a maintenance-free safety surface.