Horticultural Therapy
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What is Horticultural Therapy?
Horticultural Therapy (HT) is the engagement of a person in gardening-related activities, facilitated by a trained therapist, to achieve specific treatment goals. It is an active process which occurs in the context of an established treatment plan.
What is a therapeutic garden?
Therapeutic garden environments offer individuals the opportunity to connect to the natural world, with or without facilitation. Even the passive experience of a garden can improve health and well-being.
How does horticultural therapy help?
People respond positively to green plants and colorful flowers. Gardening offers relief from physical and cognitive limitations, reduces stress, gently exercises aging or arthritic joints, and stimulates memory. Caring for plants inspires hope.
Horticultural Therapy at the Hoosick Falls Health Center.
The courtyard garden at the Hoosick Falls Health Center provides many opportunities for residents to connect with nature. A large canopied covered deck filled with hanging baskets leads to pathways used for ambulation to benches, large containers, a raised vegetable bed and wildflower garden. Residents actively participate in starting and nurturing seeds, creating colorful containers and carefully tend their vegetables and flowers with watering, fertilizing and deadheading throughout the growing season. Creative projects made with natural materials from the garden provide residents with therapeutic activities during the fall and winter months. Many of these creations will be displayed in a resident art exhibit during July and August, 2009. The Health Center Auxiliary will also be hosting a garden tour on Sunday, July 12, 2009 which will feature the courtyard garden along with 10 local flower and vegetable gardens, to benefit the facility.
For more information about Horticultural Therapy at the Hoosick Falls Health Center please contact: Carol Whitelaw, HTR, COTA or visit the American Horticultural Therapy Association web site at www.ahta.org
