Healing Magic: Horticulture Therapy in a Hospital Setting

Healing Magic: Horticulture Therapy in a Hospital Setting

Julie Billo, Horticultural Therapist, Therapeutic Arts Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital 

Over the last 10 years at the hospital, I have worked with many different populations within the hospital. One of the main populations I work with is the Day Patient Mental Health and Inpatient Mental Health. We get together once a week year-round to do a variety of Horticultural therapy (HT) projects. HT in this setting is...
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Over the last 10 years at the hospital, I have worked with many different populations within the hospital. One of the main populations I work...

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Over the last 10 years at the hospital, I have worked with many different populations within the hospital. One of the main populations I work with is the Day Patient Mental Health and Inpatient Mental Health. We get together once...

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Urban spaces displace local wildlife species but you can use your garden to help compensate for lost habitat. By mimicking natural elements, you can roll...

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Urban spaces displace local wildlife species but you can use your garden to help compensate for lost habitat. By mimicking natural elements, you can roll out the welcome mat for creatures big and small who are looking for refuge.Β  FoodΒ ...

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For over 40 years, City Famer Society has been educating people on the art of composting. So, are there any secrets? In my opinion, the...

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For over 40 years, City Famer Society has been educating people on the art of composting. So, are there any secrets? In my opinion, the key ingredient to turning organic waste into rich compost is "dry, fall leaves." All you...

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From a window-box of herbs to a homestead, growing your own food is an education, a series of trial and error, and a meditation on...

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From a window-box of herbs to a homestead, growing your own food is an education, a series of trial and error, and a meditation on connecting with nature in a meaningful and personal way. It’s about observation, patience, and resourcefulness...

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Who would’ve imagined that photographing boulevard gardens would lead to so many interesting surprises and fulfilling community-building experiences?Β  But what is a boulevard garden? The...

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Who would’ve imagined that photographing boulevard gardens would lead to so many interesting surprises and fulfilling community-building experiences?Β  But what is a boulevard garden? The boulevard is the strip of land between a road and a sidewalk. The standard boulevard...

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Non-profit’s research could bring fresh produce to underserved Canadians. Jennica Taylor didn’t want to go outside. She knew her breath would fog as temperatures approached...

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Non-profit’s research could bring fresh produce to underserved Canadians. Jennica Taylor didn’t want to go outside. She knew her breath would fog as temperatures approached minus-40Β°C. She knew the sun would dissolve into the darkness before supper. And with Christmas...

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Gardening is enjoyable at all ages and is especially enjoyable with children! Playing and learning outdoors can engage children of all ages in physical activity,...

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Gardening is enjoyable at all ages and is especially enjoyable with children! Playing and learning outdoors can engage children of all ages in physical activity, care for living things, and a sense of how the natural world works.Β Β  Start small...

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Founded in 2002 by seven residents of Suspa-Kshemawati VDC, FSS is a community-based Indiegnous-led organization registered with the Dolakha district Social Welfare Council office in...

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Founded in 2002 by seven residents of Suspa-Kshemawati VDC, FSS is a community-based Indiegnous-led organization registered with the Dolakha district Social Welfare Council office in eastern Nepal. With its base in Fashelung (Phaselung) village, the organization works across several VDCs...

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You’ve probably seen those photos on Instagramβ€”the ones of happy flower farmers with armloads of flowers and gorgeous bouquets, and thought to yourself, β€œif only...

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You’ve probably seen those photos on Instagramβ€”the ones of happy flower farmers with armloads of flowers and gorgeous bouquets, and thought to yourself, β€œif only I could grow flowers like that!” Imagine waking up in the morning and heading out...

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My name isΒ Ashley EsakinΒ and I am a soil scientist. I am located in a Canadian Zone 3 and a USDA Zone 4. I write articles...

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My name isΒ Ashley EsakinΒ and I am a soil scientist. I am located in a Canadian Zone 3 and a USDA Zone 4. I write articles on Gardening in Canada, makeΒ YouTubeΒ videos, InstagramΒ andΒ FacebookΒ posts all designed for Canadians and Cold Climate gardeners using...

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Hey folks! With the 2022 gardening season just around the corner, I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling still a bit in the midst...

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Hey folks! With the 2022 gardening season just around the corner, I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling still a bit in the midst of turbulent and uncertain times. I'm sure I'm not the only one that is looking...

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Wow - what a season it has been! With the temperatures approaching freezing and the shortest day of the year just around the corner, our...

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Wow - what a season it has been! With the temperatures approaching freezing and the shortest day of the year just around the corner, our garden is officially all bundled up for the winter (and by bundled up we mean...

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The Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden (SCBG) is in West Sechelt on BC’s Sunshine Coast. Our garden is 16 hectares of mostly flat land. The property...

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The Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden (SCBG) is in West Sechelt on BC’s Sunshine Coast. Our garden is 16 hectares of mostly flat land. The property was logged in the early part of the 20th century, later became a working food...

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Seed the City is a youth work experience program that teaches high school students how to grow, harvest, and share food grown on school grounds...

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Seed the City is a youth work experience program that teaches high school students how to grow, harvest, and share food grown on school grounds in the Greater Victoria School District. Beyond a place where students can gain food literacy...

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For the past six years we have prioritized equitable access to outdoor play and learning by dedicating a full time teaching position to garden learning....

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For the past six years we have prioritized equitable access to outdoor play and learning by dedicating a full time teaching position to garden learning. This last year our fundraising efforts culminated in a brand new school garden built to...

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The Cowichan Lake Community Garden is located in the Town of Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island. It was created in 2014 by volunteers from the...

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The Cowichan Lake Community Garden is located in the Town of Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island. It was created in 2014 by volunteers from the community and with the support of Town Council, the Island Health Authority, and the Cowichan...

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Access County Community Support Services has become a pillar of community partnerships. Access has strengthened the relationships between those living in isolated situations and the...

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Access County Community Support Services has become a pillar of community partnerships. Access has strengthened the relationships between those living in isolated situations and the services available within our community. Access provides opportunities and social experiences for all, especially those...

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KidSafe provides some of Vancouver's most resilient children and youth with the safety, supervision, nutritious meals, and hours of fun they deserve when schools are...

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KidSafe provides some of Vancouver's most resilient children and youth with the safety, supervision, nutritious meals, and hours of fun they deserve when schools are closed for break. Over the past 8 weeks of Summer Break, KidSafe has provided on-site...

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Earlier this year a friend hatched a plan to create a pollinator pathway in our small town of Cumberland, BC. When she was awarded a...

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Earlier this year a friend hatched a plan to create a pollinator pathway in our small town of Cumberland, BC. When she was awarded a small grant toward the project, she reached out for help to make it happen. Soon...

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Farmers on 57th is a non-profit society operating 1 acre of community growing space in the Territories of the xΚ·mΙ™ΞΈkΚ·Ι™yΜ“Ι™m, SαΈ΅wxΜ±wΓΊ7mesh and sΙ™lΜ“ilwΙ™taɁɬ / selΜ“Γ­lΜ“witulh...

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Farmers on 57th is a non-profit society operating 1 acre of community growing space in the Territories of the xΚ·mΙ™ΞΈkΚ·Ι™yΜ“Ι™m, SαΈ΅wxΜ±wΓΊ7mesh and sΙ™lΜ“ilwΙ™taɁɬ / selΜ“Γ­lΜ“witulh Nations. The seed for Farmers on 57th germinated in 2008 when founder Jen Rashleigh rode...

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A Brief History and Introduction to Today The idea of the Sardis Secondary School Farm (SSSF) started in 2010; the first crop was seeded in...

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A Brief History and Introduction to Today The idea of the Sardis Secondary School Farm (SSSF) started in 2010; the first crop was seeded in the spring of 2014. This 5-acre ALR property is in Chilliwack, BC, and has become...

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Scadding Court Community Centre (SCCC) is a multi-service agency with a range of programs and services that are geared toward the Alexandra Park neighbourhood and...

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Scadding Court Community Centre (SCCC) is a multi-service agency with a range of programs and services that are geared toward the Alexandra Park neighbourhood and surrounding community in west downtown Toronto. We offer a wide range of programs for people...

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Terra Nova Nature School is located in beautiful Terra Nova Rural Park, in the far northwest corner of Richmond. It is operated by Thompson Community...

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Terra Nova Nature School is located in beautiful Terra Nova Rural Park, in the far northwest corner of Richmond. It is operated by Thompson Community Association in partnership with the City of Richmond. Established in 2014 as a licensed, not-for-profit...

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Just 10 minutes from Port Alberni on 172 acres is Shelter Farm, a social enterprise operated by The Port Alberni Shelter Society. The Shelter Farm...

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Just 10 minutes from Port Alberni on 172 acres is Shelter Farm, a social enterprise operated by The Port Alberni Shelter Society. The Shelter Farm is a small-scale market garden initiative that works to alleviate the negative effects poverty has...

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