Pulaski County CES

Title:

Therapeutic Gardening

MAP:

Promoting Health Homes and Communities

Agents Involved:

Wilson

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Horticulture, Consumer and Home

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Nutrition and Food Systems General

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy

Situation:

Therapeutic gardening is the cultivation of plants to promote a healing environment, receive mental and physical health benefits, and increase well-being (American Horticultural Therapy Association).  Settings for these gardens include private and public schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, prisons, mental health care facilities, community gardens, and vocational rehabilitation programs.

Several gardens in Pulaski Co could be called therapy gardens. Master Gardeners and the horticulture agent work and do programs at the Children's Garden at the local library, a cancer center garden, and in many other areas in Somerset. A butterfly garden is planned for a local nursing home.

In 2018, Sky Hope Rehabilitation Center opened. It is a 100-bed facility for women with drug addictions. In 2019, a vegetable garden was established at the center.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Improve people's physical and mental health. Be able to provide some of your own food

Intermediate Outcomes:

Benefits from gardening or being in a garden are physical, cognitive, social, and psychological:

• increase strength and stamina
• decrease stress
• improve concentration and attention span
• increase social interaction
• improve self-esteem
• alleviate depression
• increase feelings of calm and relaxation

Initial Outcomes:

Learn the basics of gardening. Learn to notice things in the garden.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Take care of the garden at the rehab center. Follow a watering and fertilizing schedule

Indicator: 

Method: various in-person programs

Timeline: throughout the year

Intermediate Outcome: Improve one's well-being

Indicator: eventual graduation from the center

Method: communicate with center employees 

Timeline: throughout the year

Long-term Outcome:

Indicator:

Method:

Timeline:

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: residents at various centers

Project or Activity: in-person activities

Content or Curriculum:the garden itself, powerpoints

Inputs: Master Gardeners, UK publications

Date: throughout the year

Audience: children

Project or Activity: various activities at Children's Garden

Content or Curriculum: the garden itself, JMG material

Inputs: Master Gardeners

Date:throughout year

Audience:

Project or Activity:

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs:

Date:

Success Stories