June 25, 2009
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
April 6, 2009
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.
March 29, 2009
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.
February 27, 2009
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.
February 16, 2009
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.
January 5, 2009
The Calgary Flames stopped by the Alberta Children’s Hospital on December 22 to visit inpatients and families. Fortunately, they were able to participate in the inpatient Horticultural Therapy program that afternoon. Our activity for that day involved creating some beautiful Christmas flower arrangements using fresh cut flowers, terra cotta pots, and floral Oasis. The children really enjoy creating flower arrangement and the Oasis make it easier to arrange the flowers. Trimming the stems and inserting the stems into the Oasis encourages fine-motor skill development and working in a group helps develop social skills for children that, in some instances, aren’t used to socializing with their peers. Creativity is also encouraged – we use special terra cotta markers, paint, stickers, paper and Mod Podge to decorate the pots. On December 22, however, most of the children had their pots decorated by the Calgary Flames – with signatures, well wishes and players’ numbers decorating their Christmas centrepieces.
It was a real thrill for the children to have the Flames stop by the HT program that afternoon. The players were terrific with the kids and EVERYONE left feeling just a little bit better than when they arrived…
Becky Feasby
Horticultural Therapist
Alberta Children’s Hospital, Calgary AB
November 3, 2008
