What is Therapeutic Gardening?
Therapeutic gardening can be defined as the purposeful use of plants and plant-related activities to promote health and wellness for an individual and or group.
Benefits of Gardening
A garden will benefit an individual in numerous ways, both emotionally and physically. Many find that there is a seemingly magical effect of gardening in relation to mood enhancement. Emotional benefits of gardening may result from the sense of the natural cycle of life that plants reflect. The dormancy and rejuvenation of plants mark time, and provides a sense of connection to the earth and to other living organisms. It allows one to accept the perpetual impermanency of the state of living.
Creating a healing or therapeutic garden can reduce nonproductive thoughts about yourself and life challenges. In your plot of earth, or indoor garden, you are the creator and controller of your environment. This authority is empowering to many. I have found that a garden can restore a sense of order, safety and/or privacy for those dealing with the emotional disarray generated by stress, recovery or illness. The practice of gardening produces a serene meditative state that can increase our capacity to rest the mind and focus on simplicity. I have found that by being present within nature there is more energy placed on outward awareness rather than inward self-consciousness; it is believed that this is a valuable balance to the effects of many forms of illness. A therapeutic garden creates an important bridge between the mind, body and spirit.
Therapeutic or spiritual gardening has positive effects on the physical self as well as the mental. It can allow you to grow your own fresh and chemical-free fruit, vegetables and herbs for your meals. Gardening is a great way to get a substantial amount of low impact exercise.
It will require stretching, muscle development and balance. Being outdoors in the sunlight means you will also get a healthy supply of fresh air and vitamin D.
We are all plant-like… The temperature, the season, the amount of rainfall and the quality of the environment in which we are rooted affect us all. Toxic soil will result in a weak organism. We are affected by the quality of nutrition received or our ability to adapt and develop special survival skills. We begin as a seed and are fragile when we begin to grow. We need to be cared for initially but if cared for properly we will be able to sustain independently. Sometimes we bloom and grow rapidly; sometimes we become dormant as our roots spread, unknown to the eyes of others. Understanding plants will help you understand your own nature.
I am not to be confused with a landscaping service. I am able to offer assistance in landscape design consultation and small bed construction. If you are looking for the completion of a large project I will be happy to refer you to known and trusted landscaping services. My preference is to work with you rather than simply installing your plants. You will understand your garden and develop a connection to your plants when I work as your guide and assistant. Prices of services will vary depending on what you want to see. Vegetable/herb, seasonal, water and xeroscape gardens are all options to choose from. I am able to assist with indoor/tropical container gardens and raised beds if you have limited earth to work with. Contact me for additional questions.
“In wildness is the preservation of the world” – Thoreau
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