Therapeutic Horticulture
Therapeutic horticulture is the process through which participants enhance their well-being through active or passive involvement in plant and plant-related activities. Horticultural activities are facilitated by a registered horticultural therapist or other professionals with training in the use of horticulture as a therapeutic modality to support program goals. (Adapted from AHTA definition)
Many people don’t realize that there are real, tangible benefits to spending time interacting with the natural world that surrounds us.
In nature, and especially within a therapeutic horticulture program, there are opportunities for people of all abilities to spend time working in the soil… to nurture something… to feel that unique sense of accomplishment as a seed grows to a mature, fruiting plant.
Activity Examples
- Seed-starting
- Planting transplants or seeds in garden or pots
- Weeding, pruning, deadheading, mulching, watering
- Building and fixing garden structures
- Sensory bins
- Relaxing in a cozy, low-stim hut built from willow branches
- Feeling, smelling, and/or tasting the plants
- Harvesting produce and flowers
- Floral arrangements
- Selling plants, produce, and flowers at farmers markets
- Creating art and crafts from materials found in the garden
- Preserving (prepping for dry storage, canning, jams, sauces, & drying flowers, etc.)
- Saving seeds
- Engaging in plant science/research projects
- Scavenger hunts
Benefits
- Builds a sense of community, belonging, and accomplishment
- Improves mental and emotional well-being
- Provides environment and activities that support sensory needs
- Creates unique opportunities to work on a variety of skills and goals
- Fine and gross motor, communication, social, vocational, fitness, cognitive, and emotional
- Provides fresh food to support physical health
Gardening Workshops
In 2020, Sunrise Village team launched programming with a series of container gardening workshops that families could do from the safety of their homes. Some participants joined the live, virtual workshops, and others used the recordings and printed guides to complete their projects.
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Workshops Offered
Flower basket, potted herbs, succulent planter, & terrarium
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Families Served
Workshop participants were introduced to some of the therapeutic benefits of gardening.
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Planting Kits Provided
Planting kits were free to the first 20 registrants for each workshop.
Sunrise Village is building on these workshops to create a therapeutic horticulture program for the Quad Cities area.
Workshop Feedback
“My daughter has a sensory processing disorder and was struggling this morning- this was a perfect activity to help us get a little more regulated! We had so much fun and can’t wait for them [flowers] to grow!”
“My son has enjoyed planting these [succulents] today. We got to learn together. I also got to use words like “dirt,” “soil,” “roots,” “dig,” “scoop,” “pat,” “cover,” and “rocks.” Words that I wouldn’t have used without this and the last planting projects. And he is so proud and wants to help take care of them. We also got to talk about colors and counting.”
“We loved doing this. My daughter did it [the succulent planter] with her grandma and grandpa while mom took pictures. She loved watering them. She was sleepy so, she helped with the instructions and being bossy!”
“The kids literally squealed when they saw it [the succulent kit]!”