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Therapeutic Horticulture

Building inclusive programs that heal and connect

Sarah Tanke, HTR

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Sarah Tanke, HTR

Interim Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager

North Carolina Botanical Garden

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What is Therapeutic Horticulture?

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Therapeutic horticulture (TH) is a professionally facilitated treatment intervention that uses plant and nature-based activities to work towards the psychological, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, and vocational goals of its participants.

Plants + Goals = TH

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Horticultural Therapy vs Therapeutic Horticulture

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Population specific

Goal driven

Mission driven

Helping people through the use of nature

Farm-based

Can take place anywhere there are plants

Care Farming

Therapeutic Horticulture

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The Farm at Penny Lane

Pittsboro, NC

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Sound bath and meditation
Yoga
Self-compassion classes
Healthy cooking and lunch
Therapy animals (bunnies and chickens)
Creative writing
Social skills
Therapeutic horticulture

Holistic Health Offerings:

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Therapeutic Horticulture Offerings:

Therapeutic Horticulture Garden Club:

Goals: Lower anxiety, boost mood, encourage physical activity, increase socialization

Growing Stronger:

Goals: Build everyday strength and mobility through outdoor movement and gardening

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First things first....

Nature is not always therapeutic!

Get to know the people you are inviting into your space as individuals – don’t assume they’ve experiences space like yours before.

We often hear and say that being in nature is therapeutic - and it often is! If you are in this room, you likely enjoy being outside and I'm sure have benefited from time spent walking on nature trails with loved ones - maybe you've felt the sense of calm or connection that can come from spaces like this - but we can't automatically assume that all people have had that experience.

People who have never had the privilege of feeling safe outside, people who grew up in city centers, people who have experienced houselessness. So there is much more nuance to this relationship than we often assume.

So for me, and in the therapeutic horticulture practice generally - the first step of course is to get to know the people you are inviting to your space - don't assume they've experienced a space like yours before - help them understand what to expect when they come to your space AND as you are doing this - get to know them as individuals - what they want to get out of the space, where they want to grow and how, what their strengths are, and what goals they have for themselves.

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How can I easily design effective and impactful activities?

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Consider your group - their strengths, their needs, their goals

2. Explore appropriate activity ideas

3. Adapt the activity to specifically address the needs and goals of your group

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By understanding your group (their needs, their strengths, their goals) ...

you can understand how to design an activity.

Step 1: Understanding your Unique Group

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Farm at Penny Lane

Group: Adults with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI)

Adults with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) commonly experience intense functional impairment, including disorganized thinking, hallucinations, severe mood shifts, and profound social withdrawal.

These conditions often lead to difficulty with self-care, daily routines, and employment, alongside persistent cognitive deficits and physical health challenges.

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Consider your group - their strengths, their needs, their goals

2. Explore appropriate activity ideas (THAD has many great options)

3. Adapt the activity to specifically address the needs and goals of your group

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https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/therapeutic-horticulture-activities-database/

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Consider your group - their strengths, their needs, their goals

2. Explore appropriate activity ideas

3. Adapt the activity to specifically address the needs and goals of your group

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Developing a Procedure

How can I incorporate specific steps that ensure this group is getting the opportunity to work towards their goals?

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Find Example 1 - “Cyanotypes” in your packet of materials

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Goal	Intentional Action
Increase physical exercise	Facilitator will introduce the nature walk to gather materials
Increase social interaction	Only 3 pairs of tweezers will be provided to encourage the group to socialize and share materials.
	The facilitator will then split the group into two teams, one to rinse the papers in a small dish of water and one team to take those papers and find a place for them to dry on the table.
	The participants will do a “gallery walk” to see everyone’s completed projects and will each compliment one other person on their work.

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Now for something more farm related...

Find Example 2 (part 1) - Winter Seed Sowing in Milk Jugs

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Again, intential steps in the procedure invite participants to work towards their stated goals.

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Find Example 2 (part 2) - in your packet of materials

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Additional Considerations:

Tools:

Adaptations for the tools & materials used in the activity

Environment:

Adjustments to the physical setting

Position:

Specific body positions that benefit the individual

Instruction:

Method(s) to convey instructions successfully

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Find Example 3 - in your packet of materials

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Example 3:

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The other pieces of the puzzle?

Documentation / Progress Tracking
Activity grading (based on participant progress)

... all things we discuss in our Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture if you want to learn more...

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Final Takeaway:

Any activity can be adapted to fit the goals of your group

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Questions?

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tanke@unc.edu

Sarah Tanke, HTR

Interim Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager

North Carolina Botanical Garden

Thank You!