Horticultural therapy is a time-proven practice and is becoming a “growing” profession with Virginia Tech, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Colorado State, and Rutgers University offering degree programs in horticultural therapy. The therapeutic benefits of peaceful garden environments have been well understood since ancient times.
Horticultural therapy involves getting a physical or mental rehabilitative person active and involved in gardening-related activities, facilitated by a trained therapist, to achieve specific treatment goals.
Horticultural therapists are part of a rehabilitation team (with doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists) who involve the patient in all phases of gardening – from propagation to selling products – as a means of bringing about improvement in their life.
National Horticultural Therapy Week is about promoting the practice and profession of horticulture as therapy. The American Horticultural Therapy Association is promoting the week across the country and its chapters, members, and any and everyone who want to host an horticultural therapy event or site visit can participate. The AHTA hopes people will consider getting involved in their community – by hosting an event that can promote horticultural therapy and therapeutic gardens on a local level as well as bring attention to horticultural therapy across the nation.
The Horticultural Therapy Institute, educates students in becoming highly trained horticultural therapists to use plants and gardening to improve the lives of others and become leaders in this field.
Photo credit: American Horticultural Therapy Association
Hydroponics Dictionary
