What is Horticultural Therapy?
Horticultural Therapy is the interaction between nature and individuals working toward personal goals. The goals can be physical, as when regaining strength or motor control, or mental, as when working toward changing attitudes about personal success and acquiring life skills.
Horticultural Therapy brings the therapeutic environment into the garden. Horticulture can be a tool to strengthen an individual's bonds with society and the natural world, evoking the desire to meet their therapeutic goals.
What is a Horticultural Therapist?
A Horticultural Therapist is a professional who is trained in horticulture as well as in psychology and sociology. This combination of skills is used to assist clients with their therapeutic goals. This interdisciplinary approach provides a meaningful, fun, safe and dynamic medium in which the individual can work.
Why Horticultural Therapy?
Horticultural Therapy is a very effective therapeutic tool, as are other activity-based therapies (recreational therapy, art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, drama therapy, etc.). What distinguishes Horticultural Therapy is it's unique medium and its authenticity. Working with nature decreases the levels of stress and anxiety. This sense of peace can help a client face frustrations and challenges. Individuals feel a sense of purpose in activities that produce a tangible product. In a therapeutic sense, if clients can enjoy the fruits of their labor, they will be more inclined to complete and enjoy their therapies.
What if we don't have the space to build a garden or our clients are not physically able?
There are many activities that Horticultural Therapy can offer that are meaningful and involve working with nature that do not involve building or working in a garden. You'll find some of these activities listed later in this brochure.
Who benefits from Horticultural Therapy?
Everyone benefits from Horticultural Therapy. We all experience decreased levels of stress and anxiety when enjoying the outdoors. Research has proven that working in a garden enhances this relaxation effect.
For children, gardening can be a fun, uninhibited outdoor activity, in which they can be physical and learn. Research also suggests that gardening with children can help them make healthier nutritional choices. They are more inclined to try new foods if they played a part in growing them.
Individuals who are actively working to improve their physical and emotional health, because of injury, advanced age, or disability, can also benefit from Horticultural Therapy. The combination of the physical work of gardening and the relaxation effect of working with plants support the client in their effort to strengthen and learn new practical skills. For these individuals, Horticultural Therapy is another tool available to them to complete their therapeutic exercises in a more holistic and meaningful way.
The American Horticultural Therapy Association has created a web site that outlines all the benefits of Horticultural Therapy. Please visit their site at www.AHTA.org.
Horticultural Activities
All activities will be modified to fit the abilities of the patron. Each individual's therapeutic concerns will be addressed and taken into consideration in preparation for each activity. Direct involvement with other therapeutic practitioners who are also working with individuals is always welcomed and encouraged. Together we will customize weekly or monthly activity schedule to meet your facilities needs.
There is a material fee for each class, which will be assessed, based on class size. All class sizes are arranged according to abilities of the clients and are usually best kept under 10 people. There is an instructor's fee for each class, which is assessed according to the number of classes required to accommodate groups.
Fees for garden design and installation will be assessed on individualized basis.
Activities
- Personal Potted Plants
- Basic Plant Care
- Assembling Window Boxes
- Assembling Container Gardens
- Herb Gardening
- Garden Design
- Garden Installation
Fruits of Our Labor
- Drying Plants
- Herbal Soaps, Lotions, and Potions
- Candles and Sachets
- Making Paper
- Floral Design
- Wreaths and Garlands
- Natural Collages
- Photography
- Yard Art
Edibles
- Herbal Oils
- Herbal Butter
- Salad
- Soup
- Salsa
- Salad Dressings
- Spaghetti Sauce
