Gardening Is My Therapy

Did you know that plants and plant products can be used to improve people’s cognitive, physical, psychological, and social functioning? Well, they can, and Horticulture as Therapy is the book to show you how! If you are already familiar with the healing potential of horticultural therapy, or even practice horticultural therapy, this book will help you enrich your knowledge and skills and revitalize your practice. You will learn how horticultural therapy can be used with different populations in a variety of settings, what resources are available, effective treatment strategies, and the concepts behind horticultural treatment. The first comprehensive text on the practice of horticulture as therapy, this one-of-a-kind book will enable the profession to educate future horticultural therapists with fundamental knowledge and skills as they embark on careers as practitioners, researchers, and educators. You come to understand the relationship between people and plants more deeply as you learn about: vocational, social, and therapeutic programs in horticulture special populations including children, older adults, those who exhibit criminal behavior, and those with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health disorders, or traumatic brain injury use of horticultural therapy in botanical gardening and community settings adaptive gardening techniques applied research documentation and assessment in horticultural practice Horticulture as Therapy establishes, integrates, and communicates a foundation of knowledge for horticultural therapists, other therapists, horticulturists, students, research scientists, gardeners, and others interested in this special and unique kind of therapy. By reading Horticulture as Therapy, you will see how you can make a difference in the health and well-being of so many people, today and tomorrow.

The Zen of mixing mud with seniors; crafting surprising salads out of weeds; and a hidden rabbit bringing joy to girls in a juvenile detention center. These are a few of the nearly 100 stories that Erik Keller takes readers on through a journey of how interacting with plants and nature can help heal mental, emotional, and physical trauma. Through the lens of January to December, in a New England landscape, discover how horticultural therapy improves the lives of those in pain including special-needs children, cancer patients, and disabled seniors. Though A Therapist's Garden primarily deals with the emotional and physical benefits of nature-based interactions, it also provides an array of practical gardening advice and tips through client stories as well as monthly outings and crafts that will surprise and delight readers.

The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy is a comprehensive guide to the theories that horticultural therapists use as a foundation for their practice and provides wide-ranging illustrative models of programming. This book aims to enhance understanding and provide insight into the profession for both new and experienced practitioners. It is directed to students in the field, along with health care and human service professionals, to successfully develop and manage horticultural therapy programming. The book is organized into four sections: an overview of the horticultural therapy profession, theories supporting horticultural therapy use, models for programs, and tools for the therapist. Horticultural therapy serves the needs of the whole individual when practitioners have a broad and deep comprehension of the theories, techniques, and strategies for effective program development and management. The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy provides relevant and current information on the field with the intent to inspire best practices and creative, effective programs.

Table of Contents Gardening for Therapy Table of Contents Introduction Gardening for Beginners Gardening Tools Mapping out a Plot Choosing the Right Container Choice of Plants Cacti Best Soil for Cactus Trailing Plants Bonsai Hanging Baskets Making a Retreat – Zen – Garden Water features Different type of water features – Lily pool Informal Pond Formal Pond Garden Retreat Your Garden Sitting Area Mini Tray Gardens Winter Activities Natural Manures Traditional Quick Composting Formula Green Manure Caring for Your Plants – Tips Conclusion Author Bio Publisher Introduction It does not matter about the size of your garden, as long as it is there to give you endless hours of pleasure, you are going to find this a haven in which you can de-stress yourself and relax at the end of a hard day’s work. Doctors have begun asking their heart patients to take up gardening as a relaxing therapy, and this book is going to tell you all about how to take full benefit of the gentle exercise for the body, as well as a relaxing and soothing therapy for your mind. According to studies, it has been proved that middle-aged men with high risk of coronary diseases and stress-related diseases are expected to live longer if they take some sort of regular to moderate exercise, especially in the open air, and in a garden. These outdoor activities include gardening, fishing, walking, or doing any sort of activity which does not exert them much in the open air. Gardening has long been known to be an excellent stress buster. Down the ages, anybody who got up in the morning with a bit of a black monkey on his shoulder was immediately turned out doors, with a pick or a shovel and told to dig in the ground. This physical exercise in itself was enough to make his mind free of stress and tension. Also, when people were disturbed, they went out for long walks, so that they could grow calm in heart, body, soul and spirit. When we were young, we were encouraged to dig our hands deep in mother earth, feeling the rich soil against our fingers. Apart from that, the happiness in seeing our planted seedlings take root, and then bear fruit was one of the most positive of joys, a child could achieve.

Why do so many people love gardening? What does your garden say about you? What is guerrilla gardening? The Psychology of Gardening delves into the huge benefits that gardening can have on our health and emotional well-being, and how this could impact on the entire public health of a country. It also explores what our gardens can tell us about our personalities, how we can link gardening to mindfulness and restoration, and what motivates someone to become a professional gardener. With gardening being an ever popular pastime, The Psychology of Gardening provides a fascinating insight into our relationships with our gardens.

Wonderful gift all year round for people who love planting and gardening Keeping track log book 6x9 inch @ 120 pages