Granting the Therapeutic Benefits of Horticulture
For years, the medical community has extolled the many different virtues that horticultural therapy techniques provide to recovering patients.
According to the American Horticultural Therapy Association, these techniques help patients “to learn new skills or regain those that are lost. Horticultural therapy helps improve memory, cognitive abilities, task initiation, language skills and socialization. In physical rehabilitation, horticultural therapy can help strengthen muscles and improve coordination, balance and endurance.” These are just some of the benefits of horticultural therapy.
The therapeutic gardens that provide these services offer an invaluable and innovative tool to help individuals in need. They are a great example of how horticulture can provide health benefits and improve the everyday lives of medical patients.
Does your company work with any therapeutic gardens in your area?
If you do, you should let them know that the National Garden Bureau and corporate sponsors American Meadows and Sakata Seed America are joining forces to provide three grants to therapeutic gardens in North America.
To be eligible for the grants, the therapeutic gardens must meet the following criteria:
- Have a defined program using the garden to further particular goals for participants led by a qualified leader. Examples include horticultural therapy, occupational, physical, vocational or rehabilitation therapy in a garden setting or using gardening to promote positive social relationships within a community.
- Offer a nature experience/interface for population served, including, but not limited to, veterans, special-needs children or young adults, the elderly and/or those recuperating from specific injuries or addictions.
- Be used for job-training, skill-building or food growing for at-risk youth, veterans, or the elderly.
- Involve a large number of gardeners, clients, patients, visitors or students on a monthly basis.
To apply, therapeutic garden applicants should determine that they meet the criteria as outlined here then complete this application and submit it to the NGB office by July 1, 2018. Instructions on how to submit are on the application form.
Later this summer, a group of horticulture therapy experts will narrow down applications to three finalists. Those three finalists will then be asked to submit a one-minute video that will be posted on www.ngb.org.
All involved parties will solicit feedback from the public, using social media, to vote on the garden they wish to receive the grants. The top vote-getter will receive $3,000; second and third place will receive $1,000 each.
You can learn more about this grant program by visiting www.ngb.org.
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