HORTICULTURE THERAPY
By Matt Seiler


Introduction:
Horticulture therapy is the use of people-plant interaction to promote mental, physical, and social well being. Horticulture therapy not only promotes the well being of patients but caretakers as well. The participation in horticulture therapy creates an atmosphere of relaxation, lowered stress levels, social interaction, mental stimulation and improved motor skills. 

 

 
History
Although horticulture therapy is one of the newest professions the idea has been around for centuries. Man has been surviving off of the earths fruits since the beginning of time. As time progressed man began looking at plants for food, shelter and healing purposes.

In early hospitals people that could not pay their hospital fees were forced to work in the gardens to help pay off their bills. It was noticed that these people working in the gardens were healing at a faster rate than those who were not. Further more people that had views of the gardens were healing at a faster rate than those that did not have window views of the gardens.

After world war I and world war II injured service men participated in early forms of horticulture therapy. The main purpose was to help the service men learn new traits and make them able to provide food for themselves. These working programs helped them provide food but more importantly improved both their mental and physical being.

Horticulture Therapy
Today
       Photos by Karen Hass
Today horticulture therapy is used in all different kinds of environments.     Hospitals, nursing homes, day care centers, prisons, rehabilitation centers, group homes, summer camps, businesses, hospices, and in private homes are just a few of the locations that horticulture therapy can be effective. The limits to whom and where horticulture therapy can benefit us is endless.
Benefits
Horticulture therapy benefits everyone that comes in contact with it. The  beneficial age range varies from the youth to the elderly. People of all physical and mental states can participate in horticulture therapy. Activities of horticulture therapy can be made accessable for any one. Raised planters, gardening tables and veiws can be built to accomadate those that are unable to bend over or are confined to wheelchairs.
Physical benifits:
  •     Increse mobility
  •     Improves fine motor skills
  •     Improves coordination and balance
  •     Increases muscular strength
Mental benefits:
  •     Increases independance
  •     Provides an outlet for stress, anger and emotional expression
  •     Increases self esteem
  •     Increases attention span
  •     Provides choises and abilaties to use problem solving
  •     Incorages self expression and creativity
Social benefits:
  • Provides an environment to interact with others
  • Provides an environment to learn and be inspired by others
  • Reverses the dependancy of others
  • Creates commitment to living things
Additional Helpful Websites

http://www.ahta.org/ 
http://www.edcc.edu/horttherapyoutcomes.html
http://www.hort.vt.edu/human/profht.html