tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39093575810243935892024-03-13T12:11:26.730-07:00Gardens Without BordersGardens Without Borders Horticultural Therapy:
Growing WellnessUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-11953775757727018192012-07-17T22:37:00.000-07:002012-07-17T22:37:26.671-07:00GwB at Market Day and Garden Club<code> <a data-mce-href="http://universalgardening.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/1287507711_blooming-flowers.gif" href="http://universalgardening.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/1287507711_blooming-flowers.gif"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-568" data-mce-src="http://universalgardening.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/1287507711_blooming-flowers.gif" height="274" src="http://universalgardening.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/1287507711_blooming-flowers.gif" title="1287507711_blooming-flowers" width="380" /></a></code><br />
<br /> <br />
<strong>Market Day</strong><br />
This
Saturday, July 21 Gardens without Borders will be at downtown
Courtenay's Market Day. I will have Junior Master Gardener activities
for kids, and heck, even for their adults to do.<br />
<br />
There are still spots open for <a data-mce-href="http://universalgardening.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/summer-programs-i-offer/" href="http://universalgardening.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/summer-programs-i-offer/" target="_blank" title="Summer Programs I Offer">August Junior Master Gardener day camps</a>!<br />
<br />
<strong>Garden Club at Gardens without Borders (at <a data-mce-href="http://innisfreefarm.org/Innisfree_Farm/Language.html" href="http://innisfreefarm.org/Innisfree_Farm/Language.html" target="_blank">Innisfree Farm)</a></strong><br />
Every
Friday, from 10 until noonish, Gardens without Borders is hosting a
FREE Garden Club for youth and adults with developmental challenges. I
have big plans for us to create entries to submit to the <a data-mce-href="http://www.cvex.ca/" href="http://www.cvex.ca/" target="_blank">CVEX Fall Fair</a>! Some things I thought would be fun to submit:<br /><br />
<ul>
<li>Dried herb sprig/collection</li>
<li>Scarecrow</li>
<li>Flower arrangement</li>
<li>Flowers planted in an unusual container (the CVEX Fall Fair theme
this year is "Boots, Bandanas and Barns" and I have a perfect pair of
old gumboots we can plant in!)</li>
<li>Photography: garden/farm scene</li>
<li>Recycled garden art sculpture</li>
<li>Decorated pumpkin</li>
</ul>
This Friday, July 20, I thought we could start picking herbs to hang so they will be dry when it comes to submission time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-36778082784183339432012-05-04T13:39:00.000-07:002012-05-04T13:39:31.966-07:00Gardens without Borders at Elevate the Arts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJz-xYI_QpxAvIbBi4cO6L3hBAac4DMkAi5luttUL5N3zasph3eaY5HR5efoSVKbS8aZrrMSWApBWkHYYqThEZ6BDVXRPaihONcwk6p2ZqTD3i7PZtvgt2gH92aCLUI2Gocd3yk7q6F18/s1600/winter2012+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJz-xYI_QpxAvIbBi4cO6L3hBAac4DMkAi5luttUL5N3zasph3eaY5HR5efoSVKbS8aZrrMSWApBWkHYYqThEZ6BDVXRPaihONcwk6p2ZqTD3i7PZtvgt2gH92aCLUI2Gocd3yk7q6F18/s320/winter2012+004.jpg" width="212" /></a>Gardens without Borders is pleased to be taking part in the first ever <a href="http://www.elevatethearts.com/" target="_blank">Elevate the Arts</a> festival happening tomorrow in downtown Courtenay.<br />
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Tomorrow also happens to be <a href="http://labyrinthsociety.org/world-labyrinth-day" target="_blank">World Labyrinth Day</a>,
which takes place the first Saturday in May of every year. Labyrinths
are an ancient and universal symbol found throughout many of our world’s
cultures. Generally, they symbolize the spiral of life. Labyrinths
can be used on our own personal healing/spiritual journeys and are also a
way to connect as one people as we walk through our lives, on this
planet, in this universe, simultaneously.<br />
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Many hospitals and care facilities have or are installing labyrinths
on their grounds for their patients and their loved ones, and also for
their own staff to use as well.<br />
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Innisfree Farm, home of Gardens without Borders, has a wheelchair-friendly labyrinth based on the design found at the medieval <a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/chartres-cathedral" target="_blank">Chartes Cathedral</a>, which has been the inspiration for many modern day labyrinths.<br />
And since Gardens without Borders will be at Elevate the Arts, and
since it is World Labyrinth Day, I will be displaying examples of
portable “finger labyrinths” for visitors to try. I will also have some
labyrinths designs, instructions on how to draw labyrinths, and
labyrinth ornamental “cookies” for young and older to decorate and take
with them.<br />
<br />
There will also be<a href="http://www.jmgkids.us/" target="_blank"> Junior Master Gardener </a>activities for the kids to sample.<br />
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On behalf of Gardens without Borders, I am looking forward to seeing you all at Elevate the Arts!<br />
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In the meantime, please enjoy this link to a virtual labyrinth experience, courtesy of <a href="http://labyrinthsociety.org/flash/labyrinth.htm" target="_blank">The Labyrinth Society</a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-72559942869223328872011-08-23T00:02:00.000-07:002011-08-23T00:02:59.968-07:00Bridging at Gardens without Borders<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAR-IQ0pSU9qDg99mxsWZ8uDAlqXH9URJbtd2-GM2u2cIrqikOPcXezZ4lB3wbqnrNM54YSMbEpbGg9S-KIzP4dbOvDUFXCbjqajMd3g4F9oxU5-22GDwQKwsuuSVs3Hds4jwJAyj0YtI/s1600/summer2011+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAR-IQ0pSU9qDg99mxsWZ8uDAlqXH9URJbtd2-GM2u2cIrqikOPcXezZ4lB3wbqnrNM54YSMbEpbGg9S-KIzP4dbOvDUFXCbjqajMd3g4F9oxU5-22GDwQKwsuuSVs3Hds4jwJAyj0YtI/s400/summer2011+019.jpg" width="400" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herbs in cool water: a tasty, refeshing and elegantly simple way to gussy up your glass</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.cvts.ca/">The Comox Valley Transition Society</a> group Bridging to Employment asked to come out again to the farm this year, and of course we were delighted to host them for another afternoon of gardening and "girl talk" over herb infused refreshments and fresh picked raspberries!<br />
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Last year, we did flower arranging with blooms grown on the farm and others donated to the event by <a href="http://www.courtenay5thstreetflorist.com/">5th Street Florists </a>and <a href="http://www.comoxvalleyflowermart.ca/">The Comox Valley Flower Mart</a>. <br />
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This year we did herb cuttings to grow on our windowsills throughout the winter. We cut slips of herbs for wellbeing--lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena, sage--and slips for the kitchen--rosemary, thyme, oregano... <br />
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I hope all our cuttings are rooting well for us! Cuttings can be difficult to maintain in those crucial days of root development; hopefully this activity was as much about sharing the process and the learning experience as it was about the plants, with the reminder that we can always root again!<br />
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I really love working with this group and I hope to do more programs with them in the future at Gardens without Borders. I thank them for coming out to the farm and bringing so much light to a beautifully brilliant day!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Xiv2Qj_2hSyV2qHGTfX4U8ge4tN6omxRqhqHDS4e0ETfnjnB-Jj9uu-6RVxUPe49iCFo89vf2LZk18-9TA9W-ehPXhkxjkV78GeeHh5EgPlcnbUdWHxmdPAtmv2J7VdIdE47UHGPOGs/s1600/summer2011+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Xiv2Qj_2hSyV2qHGTfX4U8ge4tN6omxRqhqHDS4e0ETfnjnB-Jj9uu-6RVxUPe49iCFo89vf2LZk18-9TA9W-ehPXhkxjkV78GeeHh5EgPlcnbUdWHxmdPAtmv2J7VdIdE47UHGPOGs/s320/summer2011+011.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93vbmbR_oiLUELKxICiB_stLivMbFinwsCvhaci0h2c1xl28Nc8TLpXA-MaXYq63ehqCF-L8VOaaKeOXs2iQrirrz6JpozfSVIpHgD9qVogqYTKoJn7OfEsKeVn0ub2XxQQefqr0T7os/s1600/summer2011+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93vbmbR_oiLUELKxICiB_stLivMbFinwsCvhaci0h2c1xl28Nc8TLpXA-MaXYq63ehqCF-L8VOaaKeOXs2iQrirrz6JpozfSVIpHgD9qVogqYTKoJn7OfEsKeVn0ub2XxQQefqr0T7os/s320/summer2011+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-20118801727161295862011-07-13T18:20:00.000-07:002011-07-13T19:24:23.113-07:00GwB Open House: July 16, 10-4<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J2a0yk2U8LRUowl1Ka13zsxp20c_on26fMNg2b6DYmMU6qnnFtMhOIO0NCaKbBFMavhnI4EvxNK3cROruvQmGv53J7iK3ofszNYSPyHtOcuVLSaimbedskB5CN7Ju49v9epefNhVy7A/s1600/march2011+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J2a0yk2U8LRUowl1Ka13zsxp20c_on26fMNg2b6DYmMU6qnnFtMhOIO0NCaKbBFMavhnI4EvxNK3cROruvQmGv53J7iK3ofszNYSPyHtOcuVLSaimbedskB5CN7Ju49v9epefNhVy7A/s400/march2011+086.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salad greens and tomato starts growing this spring in the new greenhouse</td></tr>
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Gardens without Borders and Innisfree Farm invite you to an open house on <b>Saturday, July 16, from 10 am to 4 pm, at 3636 Trent Rd. in Royston.</b><br />
<br />
Enjoy an iced herbal tea while wandering through seven acres of vegetable, herb and flower gardens, an orchard, a pond and a woodland walk.<br />
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Walk the labyrinth. Visit with the chickens. Learn about Horticulture Therapy or take in a guided medicinal plant walk.<br />
<div id="imageBox"><div id="sponsorbox"></div><a class="additionals printer" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3909357581024393589&postID=2011880172716129586"></a></div><b>Guided walks:</b><br />
<ul><li>Herbs gardens 11 am and 1 pm; </li>
<li>Vegetable gardens 12 pm and 2 pm </li>
<li>HT activities: 11.30 am and 1.30 pm </li>
</ul>Innisfree Farm is located near the Trent River gorge in Royston. It is a destination farm with a summer season farm stand offering a variety of produce - vegetables, fruit, nuts, flowers, eggs and herbal teas as well as pickles and other farm products.<br />
Innisfree Farm is host to "Gardens without Borders", a non-profit organization dedicated to Horticulture Therapy (HT) and providing healing environments through plants and gardening.<br />
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Gardens without Borders offers a Horticulture Therapy day program to people that have disabilities or barriers in society. This summer Gardens without Borders is excited to offer a fourday kids camp for the first time.<br />
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Horticulture therapy is a process of harnessing the healing powers of plants in creative ways for individuals in their times of need through improved physical activity, better socialization skills, learning of practical and potentially marketable gardening skills, cognitive and sensory stimulation and sheer pleasure.<br />
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The program has a strong emphasis on growing food and providing for the lunch that is offered each day. Daily activities will be individualized and reporting will be conducted as required by referring agencies. HT programs can be tailored to the needs of the individuals or groups participating.<br />
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"Using a generic format with the hopes of applying it to everyone interested in doing a HT program does not recognize the diversity the participants bring," says Lisa Hamilton, certified Horticultural Therapist who delivers the programs.<br />
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"I like to meet with the person or people first, discover what it is they need and what they want to do, and design a program around them. It is very client-centred. A person in recovery from addiction looking to use Horticultural Therapy as one part of their healing process may have different needs than a group of adults with developmental disabilities who might be looking to enhance their life skills."<br />
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Gardens without Borders has a bursary available for people on restricted incomes.<br />
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If you or someone you know may be eligible for this program, to apply for the bursary, or to sponsor a participant, please contact Lisa Hamilton, program director, at 250 871 4252Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-70999072708296914382011-06-08T12:41:00.000-07:002011-06-08T12:41:25.436-07:00Kids Farming: A Day in the Life<span style="font-size: large;"><u>A Typical Day At Kids Farm Day Camp...</u></span><br />
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...will be full of fun, adventure, growing and nature exploration! Once those priorities have been agreed upon, I have structured the camp so every day is set up the almost in the same way: this way kids and parents know what to expect. Here is a sample of one of our days (remember, the theme of the camp is From Seed to Harvest, so each day will have activities representing the gardening/farming process)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzgSzrPmB15QVfEqz9EqgRdSE5QGKYwRVB0F2KRRDOonQQwoOBctk1HwuSW-p6BPjfLR19GmaNIRWQ9S66-a8kBH_tiVJ6dTpgrqaz2kfGoaHi2CPQiUyZRpfDGwRGPXyBOiIRzcce04/s1600/janfeb2011+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzgSzrPmB15QVfEqz9EqgRdSE5QGKYwRVB0F2KRRDOonQQwoOBctk1HwuSW-p6BPjfLR19GmaNIRWQ9S66-a8kBH_tiVJ6dTpgrqaz2kfGoaHi2CPQiUyZRpfDGwRGPXyBOiIRzcce04/s400/janfeb2011+023.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<b>Day One: Seeds Theme</b><br />
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Our first day together will be slightly different in that the very first part of our morning will be devoted to "housekeeping:" safety, location of the washroom, how the day will be schedueled. <br />
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We will also introduce ourselves, and I insist we do so by saying our name and a fruit or vegetable that starts with the same letter. For example, I am Lisa Lettuce. Or Lisa Lychee. I haven't decided yet. We will then spend a few minutes decorating tags with our names and our fruit or vegetable and get to know each other a bit. For example, I might ask Tommy Tomato if he actually likes tomatoes! Or Christin Carrot if she has ever had jello with carrots in it before...<br />
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We will also have a tour of the farm, and the children will be allowed to "adopt a tree" where the maples stand alongside the property. Each day, they will have the opportunity to visit their tree, explore it's bark, what makes their tree unique, do a quiet activity underneath it's branches, leave the tree little gifts... Our trees will be in close proximity to one another so no one will be alone in the woods, of course.<br />
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We will then have a 15 minute break for snack and unstructured play (aka running around).<br />
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After break I will introduce the theme activity for the day (in this case, seeds). This introduction can be in the form of a story, or a song, dramatic expression or demonstration. We will look at different types of seeds, from the tiny to the large, and what they need to sprout. The children will be able to plant seeds on the farm, and also plant something to take home with them.<br />
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After this, another small break.<br />
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After break, we will create a Mother Nature Collage (<a href="http://gardens-without-borders.blogspot.com/2010/07/mother-nature-collage.html">http://gardens-without-borders.blogspot.com/2010/07/mother-nature-collage.html</a>.) This is not the type of collage you glue together and take home. It is one we make together, that is meant to be temporary, with leaves, flowers, rocks, twigs. We will also leave seeds and nuts on the collage for animals to eat. I will then take a snapshot of our creation. We will then come back the next day to see how Mother Nature's hand altered our collage (through wind, animal friends nibbling the seeds, etc). <br />
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Just before pick up time, the kids will have 15 minutes for more unstructured play. To "shake those sillies out" as it were!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgxDhxzGphkA1uUArnxsLQnYJqQ_zzsMORwX2iFcuByzNfkrWURJNU1YNNK5RhVQi_ca7jHwQXGpgtu3VWexUdRhB9VopYoeiXbCMaAQaDL3HsOmg36HLIGxEoAsb8xewh_j9gHc2-dQ/s1600/childrengardening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgxDhxzGphkA1uUArnxsLQnYJqQ_zzsMORwX2iFcuByzNfkrWURJNU1YNNK5RhVQi_ca7jHwQXGpgtu3VWexUdRhB9VopYoeiXbCMaAQaDL3HsOmg36HLIGxEoAsb8xewh_j9gHc2-dQ/s1600/childrengardening.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<span id="goog_1601938136"></span><span id="goog_1601938137"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-34943816088487910452011-05-28T22:08:00.000-07:002011-05-28T22:15:41.493-07:00Solstice Celebration and Labyrinth Walk: Celebrating Midsummer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2SXYe4Vyd6P0SJR4KQD_Y5TYH_aPTRyrjOEIoUbmcviA27Zgfs-KhY8JHcxNHf1Z_Yf1WPkVEo8xrP8mZ_UkMgNEsw5yf49ZmvKn51Kuo3I-RkWZ7DsJk_ENAz64zvP5-1OATvql2zU/s1600/midsummer+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA4OaWWA9_oNeTQ63iH8ZetEjvPRBkDZa73AoreqpHaVTt36km3a1ZXP1YRdmoqXvKQff00UMDwEN0cKpwrp9IXtsbipmmoE6ndsc2FfvzHN3A4rBuesxZTe8aFn82enpgQjl8K9k6ic/s1600/newyork+midsummer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA4OaWWA9_oNeTQ63iH8ZetEjvPRBkDZa73AoreqpHaVTt36km3a1ZXP1YRdmoqXvKQff00UMDwEN0cKpwrp9IXtsbipmmoE6ndsc2FfvzHN3A4rBuesxZTe8aFn82enpgQjl8K9k6ic/s400/newyork+midsummer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This charming image is from the1894 summer issue of Century Magazine.<br />
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Last growing season, while eating lunch around the Innisfree kitchen table, the topic of Midsummer came up in our conversation. How can <b>Midsummer </b>take place on the exact date as what now is considered<b> </b>to be<b> the first day of summer</b>? How can we be simultaneously starting a new season by celebrating it as the middle?<br />
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Of course, the answer is pagan. If Beltane (May 1) is the first day of the pagan summer, we can see how the Solstice (which takes place around June 21) could be considered the middle of summer and the half-way mark to the traditional first harvest on August 1.<br />
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The Solstice is also the longest day of the year; personally, I always felt a bit confused about how immediately after the supposed "first day of summer," the days start to shorten once again <br />
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Of course, these ancient holidays also represented the agricultural growing season, the earth's cycle of fertility and harvest, and like many pagan holidays, these days continue to have significance to many of us in the northern hemisphere, even if we do not always celebrate them they way the pagans did in days of yore.<br />
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So yes, Midsummer is indeed the Summer Solstice. And Innisfree Farm--a small, sustainable farm with an emphasis on health, healing and horticultural therapy--will be celebrating Midsummer again this year with a drum circle, dinner, candle-light labyrinth walk, and songs led by the Mystic Voices choir.<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #660000; text-align: center;"><u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2011 Solstice Celebration at Innisfree Farm</span></b></u></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: orange;"> <span style="color: #741b47;">When:</span></span> June 18 starting at 6: 30pm</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #741b47;">Where: </span>Innisfree Farm!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">What:</span> Mandala drawing, fire dancing (by yours truly) and a drum circle; BBQ salmon dinner; candle light labyrinth walk led by the Mystic Voices Choir </span></div><div style="color: #741b47; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Donations for the dinner will gratefully be accepted. All proceeds go to building the wheelchair accessible toilet</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Although often seen as a European tradition, the solstices have been celebrated throughout the world, throughout time, as all people recognize the vital role the Sun plays in growing food, sustaining life, on our planet</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-1227208035674344602011-02-21T13:52:00.000-08:002011-02-21T13:55:37.436-08:00GWB In InFocus Magazine<span class="sIFR-alternate" id="sIFR_replacement_0_alternate">This article is from the February/March issue of the Comox Valley's wonderful community and lifestyle magazine, <a href="http://www.infocusmagazine.ca/">In Focus</a>. Thank you to the magazine staff for your support! </span><br />
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<span class="sIFR-alternate" id="sIFR_replacement_0_alternate">Gardens without Borders</span><br />
<div class="deck" id="deck-1938"><div class="lede">Horticultural therapy heals with the help of nature…</div><div class="byline">By Laura Busheikin • February, 2011</div></div><div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_1940"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1940" height="406" src="http://www.infocusmagazine.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/gardens-without-borders1-290x406.jpg" title="gardens-without-borders" width="290" /><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text">“The plants are the catalyst by which healing happens,” says Horticultural Therapist Lisa Hamilton.</div><div class="credit">Photo by Boomer Jerritt</div></div><br />
Nature heals. Deep in our bones, we know that to be true. But if you look at our incredibly sophisticated and complex health care system, you don’t see much nature. Instead, there are pills, machines, chemistry, scalpels, white coats and a pressing need to scrub away all traces of dirt. But there is a therapeutic field (no pun intended) that takes healing out of the clinics and hospitals and into the garden. A field where the healing properties of dirt are embraced. Known as Horticultural Therapy (HT), this little-known but widely-practiced treatment harnesses the power of the garden for healing.<br />
HT is used around the world to help a huge range of people—veterans dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress-Disorder, physically and mentally challenged children and adults, survivors of sexual abuse, the terminally ill, and people with brain injuries.<br />
Most gardeners will tell you that gardening is therapeutic—physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. HT draws on this potential by having a trained Horticulture Therapist design and facilitate programs specifically around a client’s needs. HT activities encompass everything to do with the garden, from sowing to weeding and watering to harvesting and using the harvest in many different ways, as well as the simple power of just enjoying a garden’s beauty.<br />
“The plants are the catalyst by which healing happens,” says Courtenay resident Lisa Hamilton, a certified Horticultural Therapist. Hamilton recently graduated with an HT diploma from Vancouver Island University (VIU), which runs the only HT program in Canada west of Ontario.<br />
Hamilton has joined forces with Chanchal Cabrera, another Horticultural Therapist, Master Gardener, medical herbalist, and the founder of Gardens Without Borders (GWB), a new Comox Valley non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and providing Horticulture Therapy locally and, eventually, globally.<br />
These two women are a perfect fit. When Hamilton graduated last spring, she was faced with the challenging prospect of carving out a path as one of the first certified HTs in the Comox Valley. Cabrera was just in the early stages of founding Gardens Without Borders and needed support. It was a natural step for Hamilton to join GWB, helping with all aspects of founding and running a non-profit, as well as coming on board as a working Horticultural Therapist.<br />
For Cabrera, GWB is in many ways an evolution of the work and training she has done over the past 20 years.<br />
“I’ve been a medical herbalist all my working life,” says Cabrera. With a Masters in Science in Herbal Medicine, she works as a clinician, treating patients much as a Naturopath does, and also an educator, teaching herbal medicine at institutions and to the general public. She has also been an avid gardener her whole life and qualified as a Master Gardener in 1999.<br />
Cabrera first encountered Horticultural Therapy while browsing at Vancouver’s Banyen Books. Intrigued by the title, she picked up a book called <i>The Healing Fields</i>, by Sonja Linden and Jenny Grut. This account of using HT to treat refugees and victims of torture moved her deeply. “It was a real ‘aha’ moment,” she says. “I’d been gardening and working as a healer for years, and never realized there was a discipline that put these two together.”<br />
At that time the VIU program didn’t exist, but there was an excellent HT educational centre in the Cowichan Valley called Providence Farm. Cabrera, originally from Scotland and living in Vancouver since 1988, enrolled in their linking program for students who already have a relevant professional background. A one-month “extremely full-time” program qualified her as an HT.<br />
When the idea for Gardens Without Borders first came to Cabrera, the focus was international, but as it turned out the first step involved putting down roots in local soil.<br />
“I dreamed up Gardens Without Borders out of a sense of outrage, to be honest,” Cabrera explains. “I was reading about what was going on in Palestine. Here was a fourth generation born and raised and probably going to die in refugee camps. Olive groves destroyed, farms destroyed, people’s capacity to grow food and medicine destroyed. People’s roots literally torn up. It made my blood boil.<br />
“So my initial idea was to go to places where trauma has occurred and help set up gardens there to grow food and medicinal plants. But it became apparent really quickly that there was a need right here, and I thought I should learn more before landing in a foreign country and just being a nuisance,” says Cabrera.<br />
About five years ago Cabrera and her husband bought land in Royston and founded Innisfree Farms as a multi-purpose agricultural centre, growing and marketing produce and medicinal plants, running courses, hosting the Comox Valley Seed Savers, and providing a home base for Gardens Without Borders.<br />
The garden at Innisfree is designed specifically for therapeutic purposes. There are raised beds which are accessible to people with impaired mobility. For people with vision limitations, there are many tactile and scented plants and a water feature so they can hear where they are to help stay oriented. Also, the garden is contained, which provides a feeling of safety and also ensures that clients can’t wander off across the fields.<br />
GWB started offering Horticulture Therapy at Innisfree about a year ago. Programs are custom-designed. Hamilton conducts a thorough initial consultation with clients and, if appropriate, their caregivers, assessing needs, limitations and goals. She then designs activities for each session.<br />
Hamilton says that HT involves less actual gardening than most people imagine. Success is not measured in rows planted, weeded or harvested, but rather by improvements to the client’s well-being.<br />
Clients range greatly in their abilities and needs and the HT’s job is to find a balance between what clients can do, what they want to do, and what will be most therapeutic.<br />
“If we have someone with severe Down Syndrome, we need to figure out how they can benefit. How do we know what’s good for them? They may not have language skills but they do communicate. We can tell they like having their hands in the dirt.”<br />
“The program is very flexible and ultimately depends on the weather and how the client is doing on that day,” Hamilton says. “It could just be walking in the garden. It could be creating a tea-cup garden that they can take home or give to someone, or a craft such as making pressed flower cards. It could be photographing the flowers, feeding the chickens, or walking the labyrinth.<br />
On the other hand, there are plenty of instances where HT involves full-on gardening and farming activities.<br />
Sessions at the farm include lunch, which the clients help prepare and serve. This adds a social element and provides opportunities to learn cooperation, communication and planning.<br />
Because GWB is a non-profit society, it keeps its fees very low—just $15 for a three-hour session including lunch. Clients have a variety of funding sources and Hamilton is trained to make formal reports on the HT sessions for funding authorities when needed. As well, GWB offers group programs, such as a recent afternoon session with women from the Comox Valley Transition Society.<br />
There are countless ways that gardens can be therapeutic. “Physical agility and dexterity happen. People learn skills that could help them get a job, so there’s a vocational training element. And there’s also a huge emotional and spiritual healing,” says Cabrera.<br />
There’s plenty of research proving that access to nature is therapeutic.<br />
“Just breathing dirt helps calm anxiety,” says Hamilton. “There was actually a study done measuring this with children with ADD.”<br />
“And there was an article in [British journal] <i>The Lancet</i> looking at what factors influence health in inner city populations,” says Cabrera. “The single most important criterion was access to green space. It trumped income and education.<br />
“And here’s another interesting one: they compared two groups of people who’d just had gall bladder surgery. One could see green space from their room, the other faced a brick wall. The ones who could see nature had, overall, a quicker release, needed fewer pain medications, and had fewer complications. Just from seeing nature!”<br />
Science is just confirming what writers and artists have been telling us for centuries. From Van Gogh’s radiant sunflowers to the children’s classic, <i>The Secret Garden,</i> where a broken family is healed through the magic of a garden, our culture has always reflected on nature’s healing powers.<br />
In fact, Horticulture Therapy has been around in various forms since long ago; it just wasn’t given that name. In Ancient Egypt, physicians prescribed “walks in the garden” to aid in the recovery of their patients. In Europe and America, throughout the 1700s and 1800s, it was a common practice to have people with mental health challenges work at farms and gardens to treat their symptoms. In the 20th Century, after WWI, therapy gardens were founded across the United States at veterans’ hospitals to help returning soldiers heal their physical and emotional wounds.<br />
Today, you can find therapy gardens at prisons, psychiatric hospitals, schools, and residential care facilities.<br />
It’s hard to pin down the exact moment HT was launched as a formal discipline. Some would say it was in 1955, when Michigan State University created its first Masters of Science degree in HT. In 1973, the American Horticulture Therapy Association was founded, and in 1987 its Canadian counterpart came into being. HT is also widespread throughout Europe, especially Germany and England.<br />
No one has an exact count of Horticultural Therapists, but the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association has 175 members. The discipline has strong roots in BC, thanks largely to Providence Farm, which has been offering HT programs since 1979. It was the founder of this program, Christine Pollard, who launched the VIU program Hamilton attended.<br />
To become a certified HT, Hamilton attended the university full-time for two years, combining horticultural studies and education in community support work. Training ranged from the technical, such as how to design and build gardens that are accessible for people with disabilities, to interpersonal, such as how to develop an effective therapeutic relationship. Although she has many of the skills of a traditional therapist, Hamilton sees her role as more of a facilitator. “I don’t try to steer the clients to any sort of rehabilitative solution; the clients themselves hold the key to their own healing.” Ultimately, she says, it is the relationship with the plants that brings healing.<br />
“Being with plants speaks to something non-verbal in us. People who’ve been traumatized often find a very deep sense of peace from sitting in a garden, walking in the woods, or digging,” says Cabrera.<br />
“And there are so many ways gardens provide metaphors for our lives. Think about composting. You discard all the bits you don’t want, that don’t work for you. But then you have to turn it regularly, and although it’s stinky and ugly, you have to see it, work it, poke at it till it transforms into black gold. Out of that, something nourishing and beautiful will grow.”<br />
Although HT focuses on bringing healing to specific people, there is a wider relevance to the whole endeavour. As our world becomes ever more mechanized and our reality ever more virtual, our need to reconnect with nature grows more and more urgent. You could argue that human society itself needs some Horticultural Therapy.<br />
In fact, Cabrera points out, Nature Deficit Disorder is increasingly recognized as a problem affecting our health as individuals and communities. Richard Louv, who popularized this term in his book, <i>Last Child in the Woods</i>, links the lack of nature in the lives of today’s wired generation to disturbing childhood trends, such as the rise in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. His book has helped galvanize a “no child left inside” movement aimed at getting kids back outside.<br />
Louv emphasizes that Nature Deficit Disorder is not an individual affliction but rather a social disorder. We can see society’s desire to reconnect with nature expressed in everything from the rising popularity of farmer’s markets to the hit film <i>Avatar.</i><br />
In a society afflicted by Nature Deficit Disorder, the garden increasingly seems like the perfect setting for healing. Clearly, the time is right for Horticultural Therapy and for Gardens Without Borders.<br />
“People are so hungry for a relationship with plants,” says Cabrera.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-53668094116984536872011-01-16T10:30:00.000-08:002011-01-16T11:07:48.297-08:00Dirt! The Movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TKPcuwOOGqY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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Every year, an amazing thing happens in the Comox Valley: <a href="http://www.wcdes.ca/film-festival">The World Community Film Festival</a>. Now in it's 20th year, this two-day festival showcases social justice and sustainability documentaries from around the world. Personally, I am eager to see this one: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=n8_dN5YWnyc">Dirt! The Movie</a>.<br />
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For many years, "dirt" has been a four letter word, often describing a substance that offered us nothing but illness-inducing germs. While I was studying Horticulture, me and my fellow students were encouraged to refer to it not as dirt but as "soil."<br />
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Now, we are becoming more aware of how hyper-sanitary conditions can often be more detrimental to our health than slightly "soiled" ones. Not only that, we are once again learning how being in physical contact with soil/dirt, touching it, inhaling it, actually benefits our well-being in so many ways.<br />
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Although not Horticultural Therapy per se, Dirt! reveals how connected we are as a people and a planet to the very substance we are in essence born from. Our disconnect to this basic yet complex element of existence threatens our food security, our relationship with nature, and our relationship with one another.<br />
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To quote the gentleman in the film: "God made dirt and dirt don't hurt."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-28804125822907789982010-09-30T10:48:00.000-07:002010-09-30T10:48:42.976-07:00"The Earth Laughs In Flowers"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH83nBs81PTejx1gVa2uH1tmIxmp6Bv6D8Lxp0HUNq5HDESt-SFe5kG7wZOTCwZwT_2E9rIfLqiKnPMd3_C5cbWgIeus9T6T-Cp7rvLnW-62pQtSclKeX_at5PibBae9vnxFh-Pa8VXs/s1600/DSCF0289%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYXalT9bJ-i6rpLAqpHP4nfqDXJ9M5NCJ4DCkzWgnMuOHE1B4gUDs4yWic8jFz5IiCLw4dOp_7DC7FqWXgPzvu_BNOYssRlRAmiosasRELFro6OQ2k4bMc5tiXUkKAaoO6rhspRE4g80/s1600/DSCF0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYXalT9bJ-i6rpLAqpHP4nfqDXJ9M5NCJ4DCkzWgnMuOHE1B4gUDs4yWic8jFz5IiCLw4dOp_7DC7FqWXgPzvu_BNOYssRlRAmiosasRELFro6OQ2k4bMc5tiXUkKAaoO6rhspRE4g80/s400/DSCF0301.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Emerson said "the earth laughs in flowers," and I found the image in that quote so fitting for an afternoon creating bouquets with women from the <a href="http://www.cvts.ca/index.php?id=41">Bridging Employment Program at the Comox Valley Transition Society. </a><br />
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The Bridging Employment Program offers assistance for women who have experienced abuse or violence. This assistance is offered in the form of short term training, education, peer support, and employment skills.<br />
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Thanks to the generous floral donations from <a href="http://www.courtenay5thstreetflorist.com/">Courtenay 5th Street Florist </a>and <a href="http://comoxflowerpot.supersites.ca/">The Comox Valley Flower Pot</a>, Gardens Without Borders was able to supplement what we had harvested from the farm with gorgeous lilies, plump rose blooms of red, ivory and pink, pale gerberas, eucalyptus greenery, and much, much more.<br />
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I gave a brief talk on floral design (not that I am an expert) and shared a way to arrange a bouquet without the use of florists' tape, Oasis foam or "frogs." But the womens' design skills far exceeded anything I had to offer, and I was happy just to provide the flowers and vases for their fabulous creations.<br />
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It was a warm, sunny day at Innisfree, and over Chanchal's delicious tea blend (lemon balm, lemon verbena, fruit mint and stevia--all grown on the farm) our conversation and laughter was indeed reflected in the flowers we used in our bouquets! It was truly a wonderful time, and I am always overwhelmed by the power and solidarity of women when we come together in such a postive way.<br />
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I learned a lot from this activity with the Bridging Employment team: how to manage the time better, what other materials to bring, but all in all it was a perfect way to spend a bright autumn afternoon. Together we spent a lingering, summer-like day with laughter and flowers.<br />
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A big thanks to all who participated, and once again to the florists' who donated.<br />
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Every single bouquet we made was exquisite; the following images are just the best shots I could take on my chintzy little camera! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-63623803237168660092010-08-31T21:31:00.000-07:002010-08-31T21:31:18.919-07:00Celebrating Summer's Bounty at the Fall Fair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdih4MW82KyNkKK3DboxipDsPadB2k_VKVZIr0HQEK7loRK67_UMocROm6E1cZVlUw2jbU24cw9Ms1aqSPDqTdUWsf_7vPyR_ncax2rmU05r2vzGo-skkzCWI3hvVd4OMODzg_9APZFQ/s1600/DSCF0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdih4MW82KyNkKK3DboxipDsPadB2k_VKVZIr0HQEK7loRK67_UMocROm6E1cZVlUw2jbU24cw9Ms1aqSPDqTdUWsf_7vPyR_ncax2rmU05r2vzGo-skkzCWI3hvVd4OMODzg_9APZFQ/s640/DSCF0071.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>It is always sad to think of summer's passing, but the feeling is bittersweet, combined with the excitement of the changing of the seasons and the anticipation of fall and winter festivities. As the weather cools, we tend to nest, and our creative juices start flowing at the the thought of all of the more artistic and homey pursuits we have put aside while living summer to the fullest, out of doors. <br />
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A good way to honour summer's bounty while celebrating the coming of fall is by attending your local fall fair. In our neck of the woods, we are fortunate to have the <a href="http://www.cvexhibition.com/">Comox Valley Fall Fair Exhibition Association (CVEX)</a> to organize a fun-filled family event, providing entertainment, midway rides, and good eats while displaying exhibits both vintage and modern, on an amateur and professional level. In addition to featuring agricultural produce and animal husbandry, home arts and crafts are also entered into the competition, with cash and gift prizes awarded to the "best in show." All of the exhibits are entered in good fun, but perhaps with a smidgen of healthy competition thrown in for good measure.<br />
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I respect the judges' dedication to the CVEX--there were certainly a lot of items entered, all of them fabulous, and the number of entries just exemplifies our community's spirit and commitment to supporting local horticulture and agriculture, be it from their own gardens or from one of the many great farms located in the valley.<br />
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Of course, Gardens Without Borders and Innisfree Farm entered some things into the Fall Fair! Here is what they were:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vinegar of the Four Thieves (recipe to be shared soon!)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptPaiZHKoF9tVYndNdROmj1vTzkoBe_FjmVYRuD77KtmrDxhGX6VIQhjR7JVY9ykgY4cCNt9wqb5DJVwjzoh63OUgGB8YRWgVjmKF27dyu2l5E97m2uu1ahnKJSU5EV2ibaM4VDbIxos/s1600/DSCF0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptPaiZHKoF9tVYndNdROmj1vTzkoBe_FjmVYRuD77KtmrDxhGX6VIQhjR7JVY9ykgY4cCNt9wqb5DJVwjzoh63OUgGB8YRWgVjmKF27dyu2l5E97m2uu1ahnKJSU5EV2ibaM4VDbIxos/s400/DSCF0202.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Our Teacup Garden)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" 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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KNZ56KrWBPIuXghHAjvijcF_xS7SKOAcwzhaUApYNiLiQdwxhRRxyaqUaqQ0xNTDQA-xsDDLkHU87s2xGOPjXZE9PQXh_10qc7rarq4q0a2u2j-yvir_HcQx2kQTubbkP0ADa7kp4RQ/s1600/DSCF0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KNZ56KrWBPIuXghHAjvijcF_xS7SKOAcwzhaUApYNiLiQdwxhRRxyaqUaqQ0xNTDQA-xsDDLkHU87s2xGOPjXZE9PQXh_10qc7rarq4q0a2u2j-yvir_HcQx2kQTubbkP0ADa7kp4RQ/s400/DSCF0195.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Our Flowering Wheelbarrow)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYADCune_VUYA76FbFECU4Amuvw56f7K_yLJpGPrMdA3EIDSBSsN9Sf2PLsE3cCCwJqfxGto_fCKNMRMbYMNZ1AR_TMNlXv-el9sT1MtyLhKNa2AeOHbThZghejFoiGIvgv6m2FEYmuI/s1600/DSCF0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYADCune_VUYA76FbFECU4Amuvw56f7K_yLJpGPrMdA3EIDSBSsN9Sf2PLsE3cCCwJqfxGto_fCKNMRMbYMNZ1AR_TMNlXv-el9sT1MtyLhKNa2AeOHbThZghejFoiGIvgv6m2FEYmuI/s400/DSCF0178.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">(Thierry's beautiful French heirloom "Cinderella Pumpkins,"<i> (Rouge vif D'Etampes</i><i>)</i> entered on behalf of Innisfree</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-90918061915580242712010-07-20T14:22:00.000-07:002010-07-20T14:27:09.536-07:00Mother Nature Collage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJlS2KOuFkguzOpFxEoCVnBlAOYiqF8iMzgQSw7W1lsFV8qz59q5FvbFLqkp4Wvxx4CALe_i2mojVEzpRjVK66XvKEd6IxJbcpzNIfm0PX4P4nGwgj270INa5o_8yxL1__ca9M908nTc/s1600/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJlS2KOuFkguzOpFxEoCVnBlAOYiqF8iMzgQSw7W1lsFV8qz59q5FvbFLqkp4Wvxx4CALe_i2mojVEzpRjVK66XvKEd6IxJbcpzNIfm0PX4P4nGwgj270INa5o_8yxL1__ca9M908nTc/s400/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+084.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This collage is a nature activity I found on the <a href="http://threesneakybugs.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/nature-collage-framework/">Sneaky Bugs blog</a>. I thought it was a fun and active HT project suitable, once again, for a variety of ages and abilities.<br />
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The purpose of this collage is not about permanence, but about <i>process</i>.<br />
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Using something as a frame (I had the one pictured here kicking about, slowly destined for the Sally Ann pile) with some mesh screen as "canvas," a GWB participant and her support worker collected a variety of natural objects, and the participant chose what she wanted to place on the collage and where.<br />
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We also placed some bird sunflower seeds to feed some wildlife. The intent: to see how "Mother Nature's" hand influences the collage over a period of a week.<br />
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We had to place the collage under a tree because it was quite windy that day (we encouraged Mother Nature's input, but didn't want her to blow it away completely just quite yet).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r7UjW-vbtQmLJf_rZudlco8s9PlzA3qj4qh6g68ncRn95LC6nhRUkEfjW7C0M6-Mykt03RvxqvU18Vx0dwbrHqyWOknSRV8dgotf36_BztNRhqDuaHezWMt5KGI_Yxh0Od1v6duJGG0/s1600/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r7UjW-vbtQmLJf_rZudlco8s9PlzA3qj4qh6g68ncRn95LC6nhRUkEfjW7C0M6-Mykt03RvxqvU18Vx0dwbrHqyWOknSRV8dgotf36_BztNRhqDuaHezWMt5KGI_Yxh0Od1v6duJGG0/s320/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+091.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhPkkd7H5gkTLEEtZfpFAUmLOnlq83aXLtPDwsUM7OAGQmGSUBRZ4hUa_O9-C2CgHrSl5kVuCTuPLLXxQHxEy_P88TEjkNCC8o8xt2hyW-jkpM6tvFr-OUYge3h2AMBXMGioitqSuLBI/s1600/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhPkkd7H5gkTLEEtZfpFAUmLOnlq83aXLtPDwsUM7OAGQmGSUBRZ4hUa_O9-C2CgHrSl5kVuCTuPLLXxQHxEy_P88TEjkNCC8o8xt2hyW-jkpM6tvFr-OUYge3h2AMBXMGioitqSuLBI/s200/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+089.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLea9U3TAug0l1RPSIO3SsvyND625gK5FCcfEvLGo1vZIX42wWTTDqcxYDFAA4dW_wJcfS49V42pTRqxw7FyYzzOwnpAJbjTSrlPaWThbUj7Ohxod5b-9HnTLNWdXZlSY1bJIN7wxBdW4/s1600/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLea9U3TAug0l1RPSIO3SsvyND625gK5FCcfEvLGo1vZIX42wWTTDqcxYDFAA4dW_wJcfS49V42pTRqxw7FyYzzOwnpAJbjTSrlPaWThbUj7Ohxod5b-9HnTLNWdXZlSY1bJIN7wxBdW4/s320/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+088.jpg" /></a></div>The following week we looked at the collage only to find a some dried up flowers and empty sunflower seed shells re-arranged on the mesh canvas.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-28271119581691958752010-07-20T12:46:00.000-07:002010-07-20T13:55:15.294-07:00Garden In A Tea Cup: Bread And Water Can So Easily Be Toast And Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4owKFJtx4nTjEaXfrAe3IxsxuxhxryKUgjZP7VWpx_H57xqWxM3bUqR1tuojq9DTPwDXWmCvvMkBMKW_SrlmjnqpTH34Bme3d2nd44Bx-2HqZNVpM0dzWqg7afqZ82zITXmFJ3REFaYs/s1600/HT,+School+Garden,+Hoopbelly+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4owKFJtx4nTjEaXfrAe3IxsxuxhxryKUgjZP7VWpx_H57xqWxM3bUqR1tuojq9DTPwDXWmCvvMkBMKW_SrlmjnqpTH34Bme3d2nd44Bx-2HqZNVpM0dzWqg7afqZ82zITXmFJ3REFaYs/s400/HT,+School+Garden,+Hoopbelly+056.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Tea cup gardens are a great activity many people of all ages and abilities can participate in and potentially enjoy. What is more, depending on what plants you use, it is something that can be done year round.<br />
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It is important to choose small plants with shallow root systems that won't soon outgrow the cup. However, if timed right, you can turn a window sill herb garden with lavender, rosemary, basil and chives in to an outdoor herb garden when the plants become to large for the cup. You could also use a variety of succulents, like the adorable "hens and chicks" plant, and these can be used year round and kept indoors in the cooler seasons. Or, you can use smaller spring and summer bedding plants, such as violas, pansies, and lobelia. Fragrant plants in tea cups on a windowsill may lend a cheery disposition to room where people spend a lot of time, such as in a care home facility. You can also use the tea cups to start the seeds for your garden.<br />
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You can source cups from your own cupboard--often pretty yet delicate china gets chipped or handles get broken over the years and yet we find ourselves unwilling to throw them out for sentimental reasons. A tea cup garden provides new life for the handleless pieces of your grandmother's Royal Dalton collection. Or, you can use mugs, teapots, or even bowls. Second hand stores and garage sales, of course, usually have an excellent selection of potential small garden vessels. Saucers can be matching or not, but they are important as a water reservoir when using such a shallow container.<br />
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When choosing cups and mugs for a Horticulture Therapy activity, consider your participant group. A young man may not appreciate rosy-patterned fine china, or a tea cup might be too fine for some one with limited hand motor skills to manage.<br />
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Also, try to drill a hole in the bottom of the cup for water drainage. If you don't have a ceramic drill bit, this may be difficult. My husband and myself used a punch and a hammer, only to sacrifice a cup in our learning process, but we managed to get a decent hole in the bottom of most of them. If you cannot make a hole, place small rocks in the bottom to provide some drainage so the roots don't rot.<br />
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Tea spoons make the perfect tea cup sized garden trowels. Starter mix or container potting soil also works well for this type of activity.<br />
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The benefit of this particular activity is that is a fun, whimsical, social experience. Also, the maintenance required to take care of your tea cup garden is minimal, but enough to encourage nurturing of another life form without it being too difficult or overwhelming. The person with their tea cup garden may experience joy and wonder at the successful thriving of their little plant.<br />
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Also, planting in a tea cup can provide the opportunity for abstract thinking and imagination; for example,what else can we do with unconventional things intended for one particular use but used for another? And a plant in a cup also makes a great gift, encouraging friendships, honouring relationships, and creating that "feel good feeling" of making something to selflessly give away in the end.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggp3FFaGCaEfFG25hUI0QYk9yNLggOraenE66y-j96pJmwPLJ1S1P9HkNqn06hlyVMoVHxjz4V_lhCNPnvTokeo04vsAoqto8cQ82yIf1TmtGV1al3O04IE_jLQPYNvEmOHI77oYICk0k/s1600/HT,+School+Garden,+Hoopbelly+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggp3FFaGCaEfFG25hUI0QYk9yNLggOraenE66y-j96pJmwPLJ1S1P9HkNqn06hlyVMoVHxjz4V_lhCNPnvTokeo04vsAoqto8cQ82yIf1TmtGV1al3O04IE_jLQPYNvEmOHI77oYICk0k/s200/HT,+School+Garden,+Hoopbelly+050.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QNlzyLjB51SZJBDYwkDTWA2MYEPXBshjn-agHxT9wlxdSWNj5qhxGaTTeqI1Ku9atf0OOt1zMFBN7D-XaIi_HNmCUeXaSD4Zjbvk56jV2VD4RpIMSP3SmyRvUJ9ZkDfIJsVfGSaxdGU/s1600/HT,+School+Garden,+Hoopbelly+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QNlzyLjB51SZJBDYwkDTWA2MYEPXBshjn-agHxT9wlxdSWNj5qhxGaTTeqI1Ku9atf0OOt1zMFBN7D-XaIi_HNmCUeXaSD4Zjbvk56jV2VD4RpIMSP3SmyRvUJ9ZkDfIJsVfGSaxdGU/s200/HT,+School+Garden,+Hoopbelly+052.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew6DByZPePiQwBhevzqtVBTKLZ0d-NDz1wiuXHXpV0qg0JSbVTdm9lmBvva-FhRlpmXWZkqfl0JEA9uXuvE4CxnGNxctFOIl0358aSxOj1pngOokIhGZLPKurUgg3QDtUDMDqC9PGJ6o/s1600/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew6DByZPePiQwBhevzqtVBTKLZ0d-NDz1wiuXHXpV0qg0JSbVTdm9lmBvva-FhRlpmXWZkqfl0JEA9uXuvE4CxnGNxctFOIl0358aSxOj1pngOokIhGZLPKurUgg3QDtUDMDqC9PGJ6o/s400/innisfree,+school+garden,+victoria+may+to+june+2010+023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
A Gardens Without Borders HT participant made this boot planter for a Father's Day gift-- a sort of variation of the tea pot garden.<br />
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What else can you plant in? Old toilet bowls, children's shoes, are just a couple of the unconventional containers I have seen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-14826234600574950952010-06-17T13:08:00.000-07:002010-06-17T13:56:16.722-07:00Community Appreciation Dinner and Solstice Celebration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW2S4SCH1Nz3ZsbdBkQ0mGISsrkm41kGsfdKLjwPFKKI_WpSWWCesSTACFBBblkKG0XmOF_64vHY6lgW7wS75El6nW2vBGfwyNiDZh3uz8_EerIDo7kzoIdCSaxUxGY7_ARX7_eN8nnE/s1600/labyrinth+at+dusk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW2S4SCH1Nz3ZsbdBkQ0mGISsrkm41kGsfdKLjwPFKKI_WpSWWCesSTACFBBblkKG0XmOF_64vHY6lgW7wS75El6nW2vBGfwyNiDZh3uz8_EerIDo7kzoIdCSaxUxGY7_ARX7_eN8nnE/s400/labyrinth+at+dusk.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 48px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Calligraphy'; font-size: 36pt;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #e32b14;"> Celebrate the Solstice </span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #179325;">Drum Circle, Mandala Art, Hoop Dancing</span></span></div><div></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><b><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #179325;">Buffet dinner</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><b><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #179325;">Solstice ceremony</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><b><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #179325;">Candlelight labyrinth walk led by Mystic Voices Choir</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><b>Saturday June 19<sup>th</sup>, 6 – 10 pm</b></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><b>Innisfree Farm, 3636 Trent Road, Royston</b></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><b><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #5d2ccb;"> </span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #5d2ccb;">By Donation</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>this event is a fund raiser for Gardens without Borders</b></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>all funds raised will be used to build a wheel chair accessible toilet</b></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>for the horticulture therapy program</b></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>RSVP by June 15</b></span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">Thierry Vrain and Chanchal Cabrera</span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">250 336 8768</span></div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.gardenswithoutborders.org/" target="_blank">www.gardenswithoutborders.org</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-38361716785368875732010-06-09T15:06:00.000-07:002010-06-09T15:06:20.945-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PTeFh4vFhvDDUDgWgSkEHGzwJEW_mhaZPzVXcyr6M1S-0SrZC4vRBa_noj5T3HcoFR2p91C-XLtPkflaImWqH5ceMtYsCv9F0DRwv9oDVb1B6pY-fAmM4ojOz4rPuATxRrMcNAiyGpA/s1600/comfrey.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PTeFh4vFhvDDUDgWgSkEHGzwJEW_mhaZPzVXcyr6M1S-0SrZC4vRBa_noj5T3HcoFR2p91C-XLtPkflaImWqH5ceMtYsCv9F0DRwv9oDVb1B6pY-fAmM4ojOz4rPuATxRrMcNAiyGpA/s320/comfrey.png" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Horticulture Therapy Garden Club 2010</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">at Gardens Without Borders</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #5e11a6;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is the Garden Club?</span></span><span style="color: green;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Horticulture Therapy strives to make gardening and experiences with the natural world accessible to everyone, whether you have physical, emotional, cognitive, or psychological challenges. The Garden Club will host activities that are fun, social and educational for people with a diverse range of abilities. The Garden Club is facilitated by a certified Horticulture Therapist.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #5e11a6;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where is the Garden Club?</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gardens Without Borders is based out of Innisfree Farm in Royston, BC. Innisfree is a beautiful farm and healing centre, offering organically grown produce, herbal medicine workshops, nutritional education and Horticulture Therapy programs.</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #5e11a6;"><span style="font-size: large;">When is the Garden Club?</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Garden Club will be every Friday, starting June 11, and run until September. Attendance to all Garden Club meetings is not necessary—come only to the ones you like. The activities will start at 10am and are roughly an hour and a half long. Bring a bagged lunch to enjoy on the farm afterwards!</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #5e11a6;"><span style="font-size: large;">How much does it cost? </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Each activity is $10, but consideration can be made for those in financial need to help meet the cost. Participants will frequently have the opportunity to take home their garden project. Support workers are free, of course. </span></span> </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Garden Club Activities For June</u></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">June 11: Planting a Tea Cup Garden</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">June 18: Planting a Boot for Dad (Father's Day activity)</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">June 25: Nature Collage</span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Contact </b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Lisa Hamilton to register or for more information: (250)871-4252 universalgardens@live.com</b></span></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>gardenswithoutborders2010.blogspot.com </b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>gardenswithoutborders.org </b></span></span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-5136483884709700052010-05-27T21:50:00.000-07:002010-05-27T21:50:37.068-07:00HEALING GREENS: Local vets find solace in horticultural ther<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1jk0U-_Gpko&hl=en_GB&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1jk0U-_Gpko&hl=en_GB&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-83699562299059744262010-05-12T11:40:00.000-07:002010-05-12T19:00:10.750-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZzuxnQn2DQ2Qg-YOWeloiU2RzdGVE-n9_hq9u922SWvf320NUIQlkLAg2eWiCxRpu6zsWTu-RCY2pzUy5pQiRA3iDqeU4jRKjPotmyGtT6MtI0371yuvCLL_qEXs3bDixtbvQNTGrmg/s1600/poster+fern.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470086744746394962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZzuxnQn2DQ2Qg-YOWeloiU2RzdGVE-n9_hq9u922SWvf320NUIQlkLAg2eWiCxRpu6zsWTu-RCY2pzUy5pQiRA3iDqeU4jRKjPotmyGtT6MtI0371yuvCLL_qEXs3bDixtbvQNTGrmg/s320/poster+fern.png" style="float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 214px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Horticulture Therapy Programs at Innisfree Farm</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;">Summer 2010</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">What is Horticulture Therapy (HT)?</span><br />
HT is a client-centred practice designed to connect people with gardening, plants and the natural world in a way that meets their needs and interests. HT gardens, tools and activities are often physically accessible.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">Why Horticulture Therapy?</span><br />
HT goals support physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social,<br />
and vocational well-being in a safe and healthy environment. HT facilitators are trained in working with individuals who face barriers in society, or who have special needs.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">Who can benefit from Horticulture Therapy?</span><br />
Anyone! Specifically, HT programs in Canada and worldwide include seniors, people with physical challenges, people living with mental health or addiction issues, at-risk youth, people with developmental disabilities, women in transition.<br />
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For more information contact Lisa: (250)872-4252<br />
universalgardens@live.com<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">Gardens Without Borders</span> is a registered not-for-profit<br />
Visit www.gardenswithoutborders.orgUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-61544747691545364682010-05-11T12:27:00.000-07:002010-05-11T12:29:13.032-07:00What is Horticulture Therapy? Definitions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7LzUFdCCkdHdTh6sw6Pvd9eq9CCK_s-PaaTuBhzMnK77kb54yi2ESkQ59uEgA7aZbGz2lVCnhfRpRVF8eE8U5DUbM-agPwqbAHV-y4HoSnyrMek5OXVXe7dcLski7ZWYeBf6xrz3ckI/s1600/clove-tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7LzUFdCCkdHdTh6sw6Pvd9eq9CCK_s-PaaTuBhzMnK77kb54yi2ESkQ59uEgA7aZbGz2lVCnhfRpRVF8eE8U5DUbM-agPwqbAHV-y4HoSnyrMek5OXVXe7dcLski7ZWYeBf6xrz3ckI/s320/clove-tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470096732446998594" border="0" /></a><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:130%;"><u>Definitions</u></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >“The </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: normal;">use of plants, gardens, and the natural landscape to improve cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.”</span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Canadian Horticulture Therapy Association, 2010 </span></i></span></strong></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“<span style="font-weight: normal;">Horticultural Therapy is a process through which plants, gardening activities, and the innate closeness we all feel toward Nature are used as vehicles in professionally conducted programs of therapy, and rehabilitation.”</span></span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">S. Davis 'Horticultural Therapy – Principles and Practice'</span></i></span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“</span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Horticulture Therapy is a professionally conducted client-centred treatment modality that utilizes horticulture activities to meet specific therapeutic or rehabilitative goals of its participants. The focus is to maximize social, cognitive, physical and/or psychological functioning and/or to enhance general health and wellness.”</span></span></span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">R. Haller and C. Kramer 'Horticulture Therapy Methods'</span></i></span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Horticulture Therapy, to me, uses plants, the garden, and the natural world around us to develop programs that are accessible, client-centred and non-directive in their approach. The programs are client-centred in the way that the activities and goals of Horticulture Therapy reflect the needs and goals chosen by the individual. The programs are non-directive in the way that myself, as the facilitator, does not attempt to steer the clients to any sort of rehabilitative solution; the clients themselves hold the key to their own healing. The plants are the catalyst by which healing happens My role is to develop creative and engaging activities that reflect the needs expressed by the client, and to share my experience in horticulture and support work in a way that is meaningful to the client.”</span></span></span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 150%;font-family:georgia;" align="LEFT"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lisa Hamilton, Certified HorticultureTherapist</span></i></span></strong></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-92064865440529515232010-05-11T12:18:00.001-07:002010-05-11T12:19:30.745-07:00Of People and Plants by Chanchal Cabrera<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcwISotjicQlKhsTLzLTsKDrhbh4Mv-AzaUyn0K_Q8R4UioAtd9QJbYysCwMzB9UZHSOdYH-1iO83RjYiXgMuVli7SDHm5vq9c3xJiPHUGtEqpLYPiQexE-hjiB-YN0dxjGoCvWxrf_4/s1600/hibiscus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcwISotjicQlKhsTLzLTsKDrhbh4Mv-AzaUyn0K_Q8R4UioAtd9QJbYysCwMzB9UZHSOdYH-1iO83RjYiXgMuVli7SDHm5vq9c3xJiPHUGtEqpLYPiQexE-hjiB-YN0dxjGoCvWxrf_4/s320/hibiscus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470094058976662610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Since </span>time immemorial herbs and plants have been assigned magical and mystical properties and have offered balm to those who were suffering. Their chemical properties have been applied as medicines and still form the basis of modern pharmaceutical science. Their energetic properties are applied for psychic or soul healing. </span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;font-family:georgia;" align="JUSTIFY"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;font-family:georgia;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >There is an instinctive attraction of people to plants – whether a bouquet of flowers, a lovely park, a path through the woods or our own gardens – and this attraction is the basis for the practice of horticulture therapy. We are drawn to plants; we feel better when we have exposure to plants; we use plants to mark all the important occasions through our lives. Births and deaths, weddings and anniversaries have been marked with flowers for thousands of years, as witness the ancient Persian burial chambers with many seeds and plant remains. Kings and Queens since the ancient Egyptians have been anointed on ascending to the throne. Even Elizabeth II was ritualistically anointed with neroli, rose, cinnamon, jasmine, benzoin, musk, civet and ambergris in sesame oil on her coronation as have all English monarchs for hundreds of years. The Victorians created a whole language of flowers whereby the contents of a bouquet or corsage could display ones intent towards a sweetheart or a suitor. Today we give roses to our lovers, we put flowers on a grave and we take plants to people in hospital. Plants and people have evolved over the millennia, side by side, sharing air and water and even sharing DNA. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;font-family:georgia;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Medicine men, shamans and elders in (so-called) primitive cultures around world, when asked how the first people knew which plants to pick, consistently answer that the plants told them so. Their relationship to the plant world is so intimate that they can hear what the plants have to say about their uses and dangers. Ancient Egyptians wrapped their mummies in cloths soaked in oil of Myrrh and Frankincense. This would not only preserve their bodies very well, but it was believed to ease their ascent to the higher plains of existence. Ancient Celts named the letters of the alphabet after trees so that reciting the alphabet meant listing birch, rowan, alder and willow. Some Celtic tribes also gave tree names to the months or seasons, pointing to a deep symbiotic inter-relationship with Nature and their landscape. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;font-family:georgia;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >For most of us today, surrounded by development and a man-made landscape, Nature is something we glimpse through the car windows as we crawl along in rush hour traffic, or maybe if we are lucky it is a park where we can spend our lunch hour in the summer. We may try to get to the beach on the weekend but for the most part we are cut off, alienated and isolated from Nature. <b>Horticulture Therapy</b> presents an opportunity for individuals and communities to overcome this tragic loss. Everyone can participate, regardless of mental or physical ability, anything from digging new vegetable beds to sitting in the sun enjoying the flowers. </span> </p> <p face="georgia" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Horticulture Therapy provides an opportunity to reconnect soul and soil. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: georgia;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="JUSTIFY"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-36970377938496797112010-05-11T12:09:00.001-07:002010-05-26T13:48:15.674-07:00Horticulture Therapy Programs on Vancouver Island<div align="LEFT" style="color: #990000; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><u>Victoria</u></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Broadmead Care Society: Lodge at Broadmead</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.broadmeadcare.com/web">http://www.broadmeadcare.com/web</a></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Lodge at Broadmead has a Canadian Horticulture Therapy Association (CHTA) registered Horticulture Therapist working with Veterans and Seniors with dementia. </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Woodwynn Farm</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.creatinghomefullness.org/">http://www.creatinghomefullness.org</a></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Woodywnn Farms is a therapeutic community in Saanich providing shelter, meals, counselling, peer support, and educational/vocational opportunities through organic farming for people wanting to get off the street. </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Garry Oak Restoration Project at Government House</b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Facilitated by environmentalist, naturalist and support worker Joe Percival, individuals with mental health challenges are successfully restoring a Garry Oak ecosystem.</div><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><br />
</u></div><div align="LEFT" style="color: #990000; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><u>Cowichan Valley</u></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Providence Farm</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.providence.bc.ca/">http://www.providence.bc.ca</a></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Providence Farm was gifted to the community by the Sisters of St. Ann's in 1979—celebrating over 30 years of community and Horticulture Therapy programs!</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Glenora Farm</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.glenorafarm.com/">http://www.glenorafarm.com</a></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Based on the Camphill model, Glenora Farm operates as a therapeutic community where people with disabilities, their support workers and families live and farm together.</div><div align="LEFT" style="color: #990000; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><u>Nanaimo</u></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>McSeeds on Cedar Wood Farm</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://mcseeds.org/">http://mcseeds.org</a></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">McSeeds offers therapeutic gardening programs and vocational training to people with barriers, and is affiliated with the Vancouver Island University continuing education program.</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="color: #990000; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><u>Comox Valley</u></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>St. Joseph's General Hospital</b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The extended care unit at St. Joe's provides therapeutic gardening opportunities to its residents.</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Anderton Therapeutic Garden</b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://andertontherapeuticgardens.org/">http://andertontherapeuticgardens.org</a></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In addition to being a beautiful garden for all ages and abilities to enjoy, Anderton Garden is also wheelchair accessible and has enabling gardens for people with physical challenges.</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Gardens Without Borders</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.gardenswithoutborders.org/">http://www.gardenswithoutborders.org</a></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Horticulture Therapy not-for-profit Gardens Without Borders is a part of the healing centre that is Innisfree Farm, with programs set to begin in the summer of 2010.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909357581024393589.post-65661451891392729312010-05-11T11:57:00.001-07:002010-05-12T18:57:29.612-07:00Gardens Without Borders Mission Statement<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">To support and facilitate the physical, social and spiritual rehabilitation of individuals and communities during or after destructive trauma.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">To practice community gardening and horticulture therapy, both within our own community and in countries that have experienced destructive traumas. </span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">To support, promote and facilitate the provision of nutritious foods, and traditional herbal medicines to individuals and communities.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">To support and facilitate the recognition, practice and teaching of indigenous herbal medicines and folk healing practices.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">To support, promote and facilitate the transmission of traditional knowledge of regional and sustainable horticultural and agricultural practices.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><u><b><br />
</b></u></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><u><b>Vision statement</b></u></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">Establish a teaching, gardening and horticultural therapy centre in Courtenay, BC.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">Establish therapeutic gardens in developing countries – may include refugee camps, war zones and post war countries or countries damaged by natural disaster. </span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">These facilities will serve multiple purposes;</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">Growing food, medicines and flowers for the community and for possible trade or sale.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">Physical rehabilitation of individuals who have been injured by war or others with disabilities from birth or accident.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">Social rehabilitation of individuals emotionally damaged through war or other trauma.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">Gathering knowledge and wisdom on regional horticultural practices from elders, farmers and gardeners.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">Gathering and sharing knowledge and wisdom on regional healing practices from traditional healers.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">Sharing of this knowledge and wisdom with young people, who can carry it forward.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Training or re-training of individuals in horticulture and in traditional healing as a viable vocation.</span><br />
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