05/28/2026
Tuesday’s therapeutic horticulture session was held in partnership with Immigration and Refugee Services and brought together participants for a meaningful day focused on connection, collaboration, and hands-on learning in the garden environment.
The session began with a thoughtful presentation facilitated by Immigration and Refugee Services staff, exploring the relationship between people and the earth. Participants discussed how nature can provide grounding, healing, nourishment, and a sense of belonging regardless of cultural background or life experience. The presentation encouraged reflection on environmental stewardship, cultural connections to growing food and plants, and the shared human experience of caring for the land.
Following the presentation, Rose and I facilitated a collaborative horticultural building activity where participants worked together to construct a raised planter using recycled wooden pallets. The group demonstrated excellent teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills throughout the process. Landscaping fabric was added to create planting pockets for herbs along the sides of the structure, while the tabletop planter section was filled with flowering plants to create a visually welcoming and accessible garden feature.
Participants were actively engaged throughout the session and took pride in contributing to a project that combined creativity, sustainability, and practical gardening skills. The activity encouraged fine and gross motor development, confidence-building, social interaction, and sensory engagement while also creating a lasting feature for the garden space.
The session highlighted the value of therapeutic horticulture as a tool for community inclusion and cultural connection. Participants were able to share experiences, learn from one another, and contribute to a collaborative project that fostered both personal wellbeing and community building in a supportive outdoor environment.
