Garden therapy (also known as horticulture therapy) uses gardens and the act of gardening as therapeutic tools for improving health and wellness. It recognises and maximises the potential of gardens and working in nature to calm the mind, rebuild the body, and energise the soul.

Garden therapy is ideal for clients with health challenges such as depression, stress, anxiety, ADHD, addiction recovery, PTSD, grief, reduced mobility, autism, dementia, loneliness and social isolation, stroke or surgery recovery, cancer, terminal illness, and many other conditions.

Depending on the client’s circumstances and needs a garden therapy session could include:

Sowing seeds
Potting up seedlings
Planting
Weeding
Pruning
Making compost
Mulching
Learning about plants – identification, uses, requirements, care, etc
Beekeeping
Caring for hens and collecting eggs
Milking a cow
Harvesting
Foraging
Making and sharing food
Making herbal medicines or crafts with the harvest
Sorting and labelling seeds and/or plants and/or tools
Sitting in the garden talking
Sitting in the garden just listening to the birds
Other activities appropriate for the client, the garden, and the season.

Garden therapy can take place in the client’s garden or ours, or maybe even in a public place like a park, as appropriate.

It is suitable for anyone with (or even without) any kind of health challenges – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual – although Health Blossoms’ garden is currently not yet wheelchair accessible. Children and some people with particular health challenges would need their caregiver or support person with them.

Garden therapy sessions are $100 for one hour, or $160 for two (consecutive) hours, per person. This could also include guidance and help with the client’s own garden if appropriate.