Home Farm Alumni News

Home Farm student Russ Ohrt makes the news in Hamilton with his new bussiness Backyard Harvest that supports urban farming.  Read the full story from the Hamilton Spectator:  Urban  farming taking root

Christine Pollard, Home Farm

*Photo contributed by Denise Sarauer

On August 14th we had our first Alumni BBQ at Home Farm!  And what a great time it was!  We had students and their partners from Ontario, Saskatchewan and BC, from earlier HT courses held at Providence Farm, the recent Live On-line program and HT Diploma students from Vancouver Island University.  We also had the pleasure of meeting the interns currently participating at Providence Farm from Chicago and BC.    We found out more about “Garden Pals”, an HT program facilitated by Carol Sim here in Duncan, a proposed program for people with Acquired Brain Injury in Peterborough, Ontario and potential HT programming for youth at risk in Saskatchewan.  New connections were made and information shared.  Thank you all for making the evening so pleasant.

Malton Village long term care facility  opens a new sustainable garden.  The garden is part of a larger horticultural therapy program delivered by Horticultural Therapist, Tracy Ruffini.

View media release:  A State of the Art Garden Opens at Malton Village

Cindy Brookshaw, Brantford, Ontario

I started down the road to the garden path when my husband asked me to consider quitting my full time position.  This took a great deal of soul searching and deliberation.  Finally, I came to the conclusion that my own family would benefit.  I was encouraged to do something that set my heart on fire, something that I had never had the time to pursue in the past.  This led me to the Brantford Garden Club, where at my first meeting Nancy Lee-Colibaba was presenting on Horticulture Therapy.

Early in March, with the encouragement of one of the teachers, I submitted a proposal to create a horticulture program.  I initially gave the proposal to this teacher to read and to spread the word to her colleagues.  She gave it to the principal the following week.  A couple weeks passed before I had the opportunity and courage to drop by the principal’s office.  Much to my surprise he had the proposal on his desk at his fingertips!  He had obviously thoroughly reviewed the contents as he had jotted notes and questions in the margin.  He felt the proposal was well written, easily understood and he would be taking it to the next board meeting.  He presented the proposal several times.  It was well received at each meeting, however, some members required re-assurance that the horticulture program would compliment the curriculum not provide new material.  I was thrilled to receive the call that the proposal was accepted and could commence as a 12 week pilot program in September 2009.   There are already a list of individuals who are interested!

Margaret Vallieres, Kingston, Ontario

All levels seem to be on the same environmental page lately, which makes the situation ripe for Horticultural Therapy (HT). I am one of Christine Pollard’s students in the new online HT certification program. We have just finished the second course, and I am finding more encouragement all the time to continue the program and apply Horticultural Therapy principles. My first success was actually finding that HT existed in Canada. The CHTA website did a great job there. Next was Christine’s program online. Online has allowed me to work through the program without the need for travel. I have even found financial sponsorship for the courses. Now I have also been approved into a multi-level government program to turn what I have into a business through the Ontario Self-Employment Benefit.

To be approved into this program, I needed to have a clear business idea, Horticultural Therapist for me of course. Then it had to go through the levels of scrutiny (jumping through the hoops).  Was I EI eligible or reach back eligible? Yes. Did I have a clear business idea? Yes. Did my employment counselor agree to this as part of a return to work plan? Yes.  Did a panel of local businesspersons agree that this was a viable business idea? Yes. Was the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities on board with the idea? Yes. I am convinced that the timing for horticultural proposals is right. Federal, provincial and municipal departments and individuals have all voiced their support for a Horticultural Therapist in the community.

So, this Tuesday I start 40 weeks of support from Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) with a 4 week in class session to get familiar with the administrative functions of a business. This is an Ontario program, but I would encourage others to look into their provincial counterparts. The different avenues for Horticultural Therapists to work in make it even easier to build a career that utilizes personal experience and skills. I am looking forward to working alongside other Horticultural Therapists to present a confident and professional vision of using Horticultural to support participants in their personal goals.  It is really an exciting time for HT.

Home Farm Alumni News included by Physical Therapy Assistant Schools as part of Top 50 Therapy Blogs.

Take a look for other interesting blog sites.

Emma Rooney, Home Farm Associate

March marked the official launch of the Home Farm Horticultural Therapy Certificate Live On Line. We successfully offered the first module, “What is Horticultural Therapy” over three days with students from across Canada and even a southern neighbor participating. The program takes place in a virtual classroom through Elluminate where the instructors speak to the class and present on a whiteboard. Each day begins with students describing what they see outside their windows and current temperatures in their area, connecting our weather patterns cross country. Students are also able to interact by raising their hands and adding their perspectives to the discussion. There is also the opportunity for student led presentations, video showings, web tours, file sharing and a message board.

At first everyone is a bit tentative about the technology but due to the ease of the set-up, quickly students are sold and we see true personalities being expressed online. A true on-line learning community is established with a group of people who are interested in engaging on the same topic. Thank you to all the first timers who took the risk to join us with this new venture. We hope to see you in Module 2 (coming in April). Thank you to Christine Pollard for providing another accessible horticultural therapy education platform and for allowing me to take part in the instruction and development of this exciting advancement for horticultural therapy in Canada and beyond.

Canada AM today featured horticultural therapy programming at Providence Farm as part of a week series focusing on alternative sources of rehabilitation.  Greenhouse employee, Mark Jenkinson speaks about the role of the farm in transforming his life.  Colleen Davis, Providence  Farm Rehabilitation Manager, is also interviewed, along with founding member Jack Hutton.

The Calgary Sun reports on the impact of the Horticultural Therapy Program, at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, in improving the patient experience.  The program is led by Becky Feasby, HTR and Home Farm Alumnus. 

Dear friends,

“Just Like Anyone”, a documentary film created and directed by Alonso F. Mayo, that tells the story of 5 students with different abilities and their families from the Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú-CASP, is now available in its entirety online.

The documentary explores the personal journey each family has taken in learning to appreciate the abilities of their children with autism, Downs Syndrome and developmental delays, rather than focusing on what they cannot do, and then in working with CASP to help them to become independent and productive members of society with the abilities they have strengthened through their education.

Please visit the film’s website:  Just Like Anyone.

The film is divided into 6 scenes and on the “view the film” section of the site you will have the option to click on each scene and view them on the site itself in a high quality YouTube embedded player, or a low quality version if you have a slower connection.

As we hope to make similar documentaries in the future, we would appreciate your opinions of this one.

Please share the site’s link with your colleagues, students and friends!

Muchas gracias

Liliana Mayo O., Ph. D.
Founder & General Director
Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú- CASP
Calle Petronila Alvarez 180 Urb. Pando V Etapa
San Miguel – Lima – Perú
Telephone: 263 6296 – 263 4880 (extension 103)
Fax:  263 1237
E-Mail:  lilimayo@ku.edu