Home Farm Alumni News

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

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.

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. 

(Left to Right: Nancy Lee-Colibaba, Sylvia Piano Onetto, Christine Pollard, Maria Arana and Estela Cardeza D.)

Christine Pollard, HTM
Home Farm

*Photos courtesy of Maria Teresa Riveros.

This was my third trip to Chile to support Marie Arana of Herbarium in her Horticultural Therapy Education endeavors. Every trip is a different experience with vignettes that make each trip unique. Just having Nancy Lee-Colibaba of the Royal Botanical Gardens with me on this trip was such a treat. Being able to share the experience with her and then have Nancy share the HT presentations allowed me to enjoy my first experience listening to Nancy and spend more time appreciating the experiences and passions of the students.

One of the most moving outcomes of participating in HT seminars with students is seeing how the student then goes on and applies their HT knowledge. The last day of this year’s seminar was dedicated to new HT programs and educational opportunities established by previous students.

After Maria gave us an update on the programs at Herbarium, our first presentation was by Jeanette Olivares Herrera, a psychologist with Cultiva, an organization dedicated to rehabilitative, vocational and community connection programs for people with mental health issues. The Cultiva program is conducted in a commercial nursery in Santiago. The 19 participants work at the nursery as well a produce their own plant products, compost and mosaics for sale. The nursery has provided clubhouse space that includes a kitchen, activities room, bathroom and office. Jeanette and another HT student of Herbarium, Patricia Herrera Parra, administrator of Cultiva, are successfully using Horticultural Therapy to evaluate, assess and plan rehabilitative interventions for Cultiva.

Another former student Francisca Muller Montes, an agriculturalist, and Carolina Urbina of the San Cristobel Waldorf School presented on the use of the school garden to meet the teaching philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, education through process and emotion. In the garden once per week, the students individually garden in an area of one square meter to learn the rhythms of life and practical life experience.

The next presentation was by Maria Paz Iturriaga, an Occupational Therapist and educator with The Professional Institute of Chile and former Herbarium HT student. Maria has successfully added Horticultural Therapy to the fourth year Occupational Therapy curriculum at the institute. She brought two of her students that have successfully created a “Sowing Life” mental health program, a long term care “Seniors of Atardecer” HT program and a 7 week HT workshop for the participants of the Montecarmelo Special Needs School. Thank you Maria for taking HT to another educational level in Santiago!

Christine Raffo, President of the Argentine Garden Club (AGC) and former Herbarium HT student gave the next presentation. The Garden Club is all volunteer, mostly women that, among other things, aid various organizations and are great supporters of HT. The AGC is also a member of the National Garden Club (US) supporting world social needs.

Carlos Kaiser, former Executive Director of the National Fund for Persons with Disabilities, said that HT was not a therapy for differences but for commonalities. HT is not artificial but natural.

The next presentation by a Herbarium HT student was by Claudia Bustamante and Bernadita Salas of Manos y Naturaliza, an after school program for children of working parents. They provide support for 80 children 6-8 years old. Though the club houses do not feed the children as they are fed at school, their club houses have hot water, soap and shampoo so that good hygiene can be modeled. Manos y Natualiza provide happy second homes. Their neighborhood does not have gardens so they participate in Pillpa, the children’s garden at Herbarium. The children learn to grow and then eat the vegetables from the Pillpa garden.

Also attending the seminar was Sylvia Piano Onetto, President of the Garden Club of Chile. The Garden Club of Chile is now supporting the Colegio Humberto Aranda for special needs children. The teachers asked for help to plant a grazing garden at the school. Now that the garden is planted, the garden club is now planning to teacher the teachers about horticulture so that gardening can be incorporated into the school curriculum.

So Alumni, as you can see, the roots have spread far since the germination of HT plantings!!

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

From the garden, to the home, and back to the earth.

Submitted By:  Carol Stanley, Powell River, B.C.

Materials: Garden herbs with strong stems to make frame, I used caraway. Dried oregano, any and all dried herbs, seedpods, holly with berries for colour

Procedure:

1. Pick herbs from garden.  I put oregano (that has gone to flower) in an equal mixture of glycerine and hot water, let water cool, place oregano in water and leave in a cool, dry place for approx. 3 weeks.  This works well with all sorts of plants, leaves, giving the leaves a leathery, workable texture.
2. Hot glue frame together, you might need to use a vice of thicker stems.  The stems are left with all their imperfections.
3. Use grape vine to wind around frame and form a hanger.
4. Hot glue oregano and other plants, seeds, anything that will compost, to frame
5. Hang and enjoy!

Therapeutic Values:

Cognitive – Plant, herb and seedpod names.  Herbs, their uses, cooking, medicinal. Composting, the environment, gardening.
Physical – Picking plants.  Making a natural frame.  Using glue, or glue gun.
Emotional – The aroma and texture of plant material
Social – Exchanging ideas.  Helping each other put frames together, talking about past times.
Spiritual/Creative – Nature.  Creativity.  Frame can be any shape, and size.  Placement of plant material.

Populations Used With: This craft can be used with the young, elderly, dementia, physical and mental disabilities.  Keeping safety first.  Change hot gun to white glue, make sure all herbs and materials used are edible.  No sharp instruments.  Plants can be composted as they loose colour and texture.  Frame can be reused in another craft.  Made into garden stakes.

Creative Festive Centrepieces

Submitted By: Margaret Nevett, Gardening For Life, Toronto, ON

Source of Activity Idea: While working for a local florist in the past, I had an opportunity to create similar arrangements for clients using evergreens and flowers in a florist foam base.

Materials:
4 inch green plastic saucer
Florist foam (cut to fit saucer base, 2 to 3 inches high)
Florist (waterproof) tape to secure foam in saucer
Salal branches
Pine branches
Cedar branches
Seeded Eucalyptus
Red, white and/or pink stripped carnations

Procedure:

Preparation -
Complete the preparation in advance or involve residents where possible, depending on abilities of your participants.
Prepare saucers with florist foam cut to fit and secure with florist tape.
Soak florist foam in water until saturated.
Cut branches and stems to 5 or 6 inch pieces in advance or assist participants to trim stems as they add to the arrangement.

Creating  Festive Centrepieces -
1. Begin by adding the largest leaves of the salal stems to create a base for the arrangement.
2. Add small stems of pine, cedar and seeded Eucalyptus to fill in the arrangement all around
3. Select 5 carnations of your favourite colour combinations, to add throughout the arrangement.

Finish off by spritzing the arrangement with water and taking pictures!

Therapeutic Values:

Cognitive – concentration, must follow several steps to complete, make choices of colours, creative placement of each type of branch, seasonal orientation
Physical – hand strength needed to cut branches to small pieces, fine motor skills to pick up branches and flowers and push into florist foam, range of motion to reach and select materials, stimulating smells
Emotional – scents of evergreens stimulate memories of holiday times and Christmas trees or evergreen bows brought indoors to decorate in winter. Develops self esteem through creativity and sense of accomplishment
Social – materials and creations are shared with other residents, enjoyed in the dining rooms later, conversational focus. Preparation and clean-up requires teamwork.
Spiritual/Creative – designing with scented evergreens and flowers connects us with nature -  a peaceful, satisfying activity. Each arrangement turns out differently. All are beautiful.

Populations Used With: My work has been mostly with seniors in Long Term Care Facilities. This project can be prepared in advance if necessary to make it easy to accomplish and would be suitable for most populations.

Submitted By: Christine Pollard, Home Farm, Duncan, BC             

Materials: plant pot in the shape of a dish, potting soil, grass seed, water, squeeze bottle

Procedure:

1. Fill the dish with potting soil to a half inch of the rim
2. Scatter grass seed over the soil and water in with squeeze bottle
3. When the grass is tall enough, trim with scissors
4. For seasonal effect, place a small snowman on the grass, an easter egg of in the flower season use the dish to hold a posy of flowers.

Therapeutic Values:

Cognitive – following directions  *Should not be used for people with dementia as the activity is out of season.
Physical – fine motor skills, the smell of outdoors, the smell of cut grass can evokes good memories
Emotional – optimistic feelings of spring on drab winter days
Social - reminisce about lawns of the past
Spiritual/Creative - for pain management another HT used the artificial spray of cut grass to evoke a sense of well being as that was a safe memory.  In this case the real cut grass could also work.

Populations Used With: pain management, those unable to go outside, physical barriers, seniors