Horticultural therapy: gardening for the disabled

Photography by J. Taylor - In honor of our veterans, a West Philly Veterans' Memorial Garden

Memorial Day is when we honor our fallen vets and pay homage to all who have served our country.  In honoring and taking care of our vets, one of the resources that many of the VA Hospitals  and Rehab Centers in the US offer is horticultural therapy within a variety of their programs.  In fact, all over the country there are Horticultural Therapy Programs for the disabled.  Many new gardening programs for vets are being established across the country. Some programs allow vets to grow and sell their produce.  Other VA hospitals have greenhouses where the veterans can grow many of the plants that will be planted in the garden. The UK has The Gardening Leave project which was set up in 2007 as a horticultural therapy pilot project to enhance the therapeutic experience of ex-military personnel with combat related mental health problems.

Photo by J. Taylor - There are Horticultural Therapy Centers across our country

Horticultural therapy is the practice of horticulture as therapy to improve human well-being. Horticultural Therapy first began in the 1790’s when patients worked in the gardens to pay for psychiatric care and doctors began to see improvement in these patients. In 1817 FriendsHospital in Philadelphia began the first gardening program. Dr. Benjamin Rush— a medical professor in Philadelphia who is often considered the first psychologist — noted in the late 18th century that field labor in a farm setting had a curative effect on mentally ill patients (1).

Photo by J. Taylor - Bryn Mawr Rehab Hoticultural Therapy Center - Easy Accessibility

There are also different types of horticultural therapy gardens such as Healing gardens, Therapeutic Gardens, Horticulture Therapy Gardens, Restorative Gardens, Prevalence of Horticultural Therapy Programs and Healing Gardens, and Benefits of Horticultural Therapy and Therapeutic Gardens. They also report, “Horticultural therapy (HT) is not only an emerging profession, it is a time-proven practice. The therapeutic benefits of peaceful garden environments have been understood since ancient times. ... Rehabilitative care of hospitalized war veterans in the 1940s and 1950s greatly expanded the practice of HT. Today, HT is recognized as a practical and viable treatment with wide-ranging benefits for people in therapeutic, vocational and wellness programs.”  

The University of Florida IFAS Extension reports that some of the proven benefits of horticultural therapy include:

1.                      Reducing physical pain                    
2.                      Providing sensory stimulation
3.                      Improving memory and concentration
4.                      Easing emotional pain-bereavement or abuse
5.                      Cultivating nurturing feelings
6.                      Encouraging social interaction
7.                      Teaching responsibility
8.                      Reducing stress and anger
9.                      Enhancing productivity and problem solving (3)