Therapeutic Horticulture ~ Nature-Based Curriculum Design

Interested in incorporating plant-based activities and awareness into your practice, classroom, workplace? Curious how cultivating a deeper relationship with the “natural world” can pique the curiosity of children and adults alike? Looking to cultivate mindfulness and compassion in your work with clients, patients, or students?

It’s crucial that we recognize and act wisely upon our innate connections to the plant world. Our lives literally depend upon it! And so do the lives of every living organism on our planet. A Therapeutic Horticulture lens can help us do this as we work on specific skills, such as close observation and detailed description, and embodied awareness. HOW I develop a curriculum of activities for you will depend on the population of people with whom you work, where you’ll be facilitating your offerings, and what your specific goals are for these sessions.

Your Curricula might take shape as:

• Nature-centered mindfulness practices to support everyday stress and fatigue

• Gentle plant practices for opening to grieving and healing

• Horticulture-infused project-based learning for students

• Activities for fostering social interactivity with/in the garden

How the Design Process Unfolds:

• Seedling Meeting (approx. 45 minutes, online or in-person) - We discuss your ideas, goals, questions, etc.

• TH Curricula Draft - Joanne creates a tailored nature-based set of activities for you

• Transplant Meeting (approx. 30 minutes, online or in-person) - We talk through the curricula, and you ask any questions you have about it

• Compost Meeting - (approx. 30 minutes, online or in-person) - Once you’ve begun to implement the curricula (or after you’ve completed it), we meet to discuss your challenges, successes, next steps, et al.

• Further Resources - Joanne shares helpful resources for you to continue your learning