Welcome to the Biblical Garden! at First Congregational Church of Fair Haven (Vermont) UCC!

Discover How

Brings Healing!

Horticultural Therapy dovetails perfectly with the current emphasis on mind-body healing. This session explores the healing of the soul that gardening and gardens offer. Biblical gardens, Asian gardens, garden archetypes, and the writings of ancient and current mystics will be discussed. We are invited to discover the inner garden of our soul. Connecting with soil, seed and gardens leads us to the presence of God and the mysterious rhythm of healing and growth. This conceptual paradigm can be integrated into recreation activity programs in the long-term care setting.

THREE KEY TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED:

1. The practices of horticultural therapy combined with traditional images of spirituality.
2. Symbolism and healing in the garden.
3. Approaches, Resources, Materials and Program Planning.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Will be able to plan at least one session in spiritual gardening for geriatric population.
2. Will describe five benefits of a spiritually based horticultural therapy program.
3. Will learn five concepts or techniques in using plants known for spiritual healing.

TARGET AUDIENCE:
1. Recreation Therapists, Horticultural Therapists
2. Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists
3. Nurses, Social Workers

SPEAKER NAME AND TITLE:
Charles A. Sourby, MS Ed. CTRS
1. Instructor at the New York Botanic Garden’s Horticultural Therapy Continuing Education Program.
2. Guest Instructor at Lehman College

1. I directed the Horticultural Therapy Program at Calvary Hospital for five years.
2. I have been presenting at conferences since 1987 on such topics as Environmental Education for the Developmentally Disabled & Emotionally Disturbed populations, on palliative care at the NY Hospice Conference, On Holistic Cancer Retreats at NYSTRA, Enabling Gardens at NYSTRA, Horticultural Therapy and Experiential Learning for graduate students at Lehman College.

2-3 hours.

The University of Virginia has done some wonderful work with horticultural therapy.

Features:
10' x 24' greenhouse, two raised flower beds, herb garden

From "The Many Faces of Horticultural Therapy," an article in the American Horticulturist magazine in August of 1991:
Each week, about ten inpatients-and sometimes some outpatients as well-ranging from age 5 to 20 years are busy in its ten-by-twenty-four-foot greenhouse, two raised beds, and herb garden. They may have had amputations or brain injuries, or have cancer, cerebral palsy, spinabifida, mental retardation, or visual impairments.
Each activity is designed to improve a specific skill. Watering with a hose or watering can, raking and digging soil, and moving potted plants improves gross motor skills of the arms and body. Fine motor skills, such as finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination, are developed through planting seeds, weeding and pruning, using a spray bottle, removing harmful bugs from plants, and making and using plant identification labels.
Basic tactile awareness-smell and touch-is enhanced by observing fragrant flowers and herbs, the textural differences between sand and peat moss and perlite, and between wet and dry potting mixtures, and differences in air temperature. Visual discrimination is increased by plant and flower identification tasks. The clients' ability to listen and remember is improved through following directions, for instance, to "find the plant with the large flowers," and through distinguishing different sounds made by beans and other seeds in a shaker.
Participants learn about social interaction, too, when they work and socialize with other patients, staff, and volunteers. Raking or hoeing can help lessen aggressive behavior, and caring for plants rarely fails to strengthen a youngster's self-image and increase a sense of responsibility.

'Since the horticulture program exists on donations, volunteers are priceless!'...Members of the Rotary Club designed and built the garden's raised bed. Local nurseries and home building supply stores donated tools and landscaping material. Giant Food financed the greenhouse, and Master Gardeners helped in a number of ways."
The horticulture program at the Children's Medical Center is funded through donations to the CMC. If you would like to donate to or volunteer for the program, please write or call for more information:
Children's Medical Center - Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center
2270 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903
(804)924-8225