UC Cultivates a New Idea: Horticulture Therapy

If you want to help root out emotional ills and boost your mood, working with plants can help – in the same way that human contact or pet contact can.  The idea is spreading like crab grass, such that

The Wall Street Journal

explored “Flower Power: How Gardens Improve Your Mental Health…New Science Points to Benefits of Weeding and Watering; Seeking Horticulture Therapy” in its Aug. 26, 2003 edition. 

That’s why the University of Cincinnati is grafting human services and horticulture in a new series of courses that focus on horticulture therapy within the Human Services associate degree offered at UC’s

Clermont College

.  The certificate courses are offered in cooperation with UC’s

Horticulture Program

.

“These courses are for activity therapists, occupational therapists, recreation workers, health-care providers, social workers and other human-service workers.  It gives them a new set of skills to bring to the work setting,” explained Laurie Renz, professor of humanities and social science, adding that those with horticulture therapy skills would likely work in nursing homes, day care centers, schools, recreation centers and prisons. 

Indeed, UC’s first class, Introduction to Horticulture Therapy, is attracting students interested in serving others.  Lynn McMains of Williamsburg, Ohio, in Clermont County wants to pursue horticulture therapy in order to help the disabled.

“Years ago, I facilitated a self-help group for those with chronic pain.  One time, a horticulture therapist came to one of our group meetings, and the hour-and-a-half just flew by.  Everyone forgot their pain for that time.  For years, I’ve looked for the chance to take courses in hort therapy but the nearest degree program was at Kansas State University, and that’s just too much of a commute,” laughed McMains, adding that she jumped at the chance to enroll in the program. 

McMains says she is living proof of the physical and emotional benefits of horticulture after two back surgeries and the resulting scar tissue development which presses the nerves in her back.  “The pain is chronic and debilitating, but when I work with indoor, potted plants, or when I’m outside in the garden or working with my herbs, I feel so totally different… I don’t care what shape you’re in, what condition you’re in, the plants will thrive with your care, and when something thrives because of you, that’s just so great,” she stated. 

Introduction to Horticulture Therapy, to meet at UC’s Clermont College, will be led by Adjunct Instructor Mary Ellen Pesek, a registered horticulture therapist and member of the American Horticulture Therapy Association.  Pesek has worked over the years at a Canadian psychiatric hospital, for the Hamilton County Board of Mental Retardation, and with high school special-needs students. 

In the courses she leads, Pesek said she will review indoor and outdoor horticulture therapy methods and tools.  “It’s like occupational therapy or music therapy.  There will be lectures and projects.  The students will learn about the many tools necessary for horticulture therapy, including indoor grow lights, wheelchair-accessible raised beds which are also perfect for children, adaptive gardening tools, craft principles, and principles of floral design, botany and more,” according to Pesek. 

In order to complete the entire Horticulture Therapy Certificate Program, students will need to complete this fall course and three others later in the year, as well as support courses.  They’ll also need to complete one field experience.  Courses offered later in the year are:  Horticulture Therapy Programming; Horticulture Therapy – Outdoor Techniques; and Horticulture Therapy – Indoor Techniques.  

According to Renz, the only degree programs in horticulture therapy are located at Virginia Tech, Kansas State University and Rutgers University.  Eventually, she hopes this Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program, part of an associate degree program, will grow into baccalaureate degree program.    

An open house about the program is set for 8:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 6, in the student lounge, Clermont College.  For more information, call Laurie Renz at 513-732-5266 or Sylvia Farley at 513-732-5215.