Legacy Emanuel Children's Garden, mentioned in the article
In the Wall Street Journal today, a great article about horticultural therapy programs: "When Treatment Involves Dirty Fingernails," by Anne Marie Chaker. Make sure to check out the slideshow online.
Here are two interesting statistics from the article: A 2005 study of 107 patients published in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation indicated that cardiac rehabilitation patients in a one-hour gardening class clocked in lower heart rates and better dispositions than patients who received a generic patient-education class. Another study, published in 2008 in HortiTechnology, showed that 18 residents of an assisted-living facility showed a significant increase in self-rated health and happiness after participating in four horticulture classes.
And speaking of horticultural therapy, the Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture has put out a call for papers for its next issue. Manuscripts may include research projects, case studies, program and services descriptions, therapeutic practice descriptions, therapeutic horticulture philosophies, therapeutic design project descriptions, relevant book reviews, and other related topics. See the AHTA website for more details and for the editor's contact information. It's an excellent opportunity to share what you know with others.
3 comments:
Years ago, I went to a conference at Legacy here in Portland. Terezia put me on a gurney and I was wheeled through the garden to see what a different point of view I'd have as a patient. Filtered sunshine through the lacy leaves of a Japanese Maple in one place, lavender brought up to my level in a raised bed. She is so very dedicated to getting the word out.
Thanks for your comment, Carol. I wonder if it was the same workshop that I went to - this was back in 1999 - Teresia had us wheel around in wheelchairs and walk around with IV poles to see what would roll on what surfaces and, as you said, to see the garden from that perspective. She is such excellent teacher.
I was there also! What a wonderful facility and a wonderful woman Terezia is!
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