Horticulture Therapy

Horticulture the practice of cultivating plants for aesthetics and production purposes,

Therapy the treatment and healing process of a disorder or disorders. Put simply

these two practises combined is the use of horticultural activities to assist in the

healing process. Similar to art therapy, equine therapy and nature therapy -

horticulture therapy puts in to practice hands on skills for participants to reap the

benefits of this wonderful activity.

My name is Jaclyn, and I am a horticulturalist with a certificate in individual support. I

am now a horticultural trainer and would love the opportunity to provide horticultural

knowledge to carers to incorporate into their programs. Horticulture is an amazing

aspect of life and encompasses all grown plants from home grown tomatoes through

to sitting under the shade of a majestic tree and every shrub, flower and grass in

between. With feedback from the care industry I would love to establish an

introduction to horticulture course to allow you as carer to undertake training in the

basic knowledge and skills in horticultural tasks, you can then utilise this skill with

your clients with confidence. These tasks would range from planting seeds through

to caring for a garden bed, walking through nature simply observing horticulture in

situ and caring for established gardens they may already have and many others to

suit the individual and their needs.

Physical benefits of undertaking these activities are endless and include fine motor

skills from selecting the tiny seeds and placing them in their pots, snipping delicate

flower stems for bud vases, to larger muscle groups strengthened when pulling on

hoses, carrying watering cans and bending to dig into the soil. Being n the outdoors

allows for sunlight and Vitamin D absorbed into the skin while soil microbes tickle the

noses and stimulate serotonin.

Mental health benefits are beyond listable, they begin with sense of achievement

and purpose upon seeing a tiny shoot form, memories are provoked from long ago

and a sense of home, mindfulness and flow are achieved when the sole focus is on

the task at hand. The noise of the day is quietened, the mind is clear, breathing

slows, the shoulders relax while the body moves and works. The results from the

activity are visible and instantly promote feelings of success and fulfillment.

As carers your role is to assist your clients to achieve the best day they can, not

everyday will be about kicking goals or long-term accomplishments but everyday can

have a sense of joy and fulfillment included. These tasks incorporated into a

standard care program will assist the clients to achieve this joy. Joy is compounding

and a little bit goes a long way. Simple tasks where the client is the centre of the

activity and will achieve success, success in the immediate act of completing the

task and success in the ongoing act of continuing to be the carer and see results.

Imagine your client in their home sets up a small pot with a tiny plant. The activity of

potting that one plant will provide weeks-months of satisfaction and purpose. Plants

need care to thrive they need to be established in their ideal position and have their

needs tended to achieve their highest potential just like us. By enabling the client to

be the carer you are empowering them and instilling a sense of purpose into their

days. Gardening is essentially hope in tangible form. By planting a garden, you are

planning for tomorrow as they say and to have a hopeful tomorrow is all anyone

needs.

Jaclyn Knight

Mindful gardening

Consultancy and Therapy