Root in Nature

Donations, such as plants, seeds and other supplies, can make a huge impact on therapeutic horticulture and horticultural therapy programs! Here’s how:

💰 Cost-effective: Donations help stretch limited budgets, bringing more resources to the program.
🌿 Variety: More plant materials mean more engaging, dynamic programming for clients.
🌍 Expansion: Donated items enable programs to grow and reach even more people, creating greener, more therapeutic spaces.

Let’s welcome September with its beautiful birth flowers: asters and morning glories! 🌸✨

Asters symbolize love and patience, while morning glories represent affection and attachment.

In therapeutic horticulture, asters are a good choice for garden activities, as they are non-toxic and easy to grow. Morning glories, while beautiful, should be handled with care—some varieties can be toxic if ingested, so they’re best admired from a distance with certain populations.

📢 Last Call to Register for the September Cohort! ⏳

Are you ready to deepen your skills in therapeutic horticulture? Our Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture course is your opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, enhance your practice, and build the confidence you need to provide impactful therapeutic horticulture activities.

Here’s what one of our July graduates had to say. 💚🌿

Don't miss out on this chance to learn from Katie and guest experts, and connect with a supportive community of therapeutic horticulture practitioners.

🗓️ Registration closes on September 1! Secure your spot today and take the next step in your therapeutic horticulture journey:

https://rootinnature.ca/advancing-skills-in-therapeutic-horticulture/

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Root in Nature is dedicated to supporting therapeutic horticulture professionals by providing the resources, training, and community they need to grow and succeed. In our latest blog post, we share how we're empowering practitioners to harness the healing power of the plant/people connection to make a meaningful impact.

From our comprehensive online courses to the GrowTH Network, we're helping professionals around the world enhance their skills and reach more people through the benefits of nature

Read our latest blog to learn more about our commitment to advancing the field of therapeutic horticulture. Together, we can nurture growth and well-being in our communities! 🌿💚

https://rootinnature.ca/root-in-nature-empowering-therapeutic-horticulture-professionals/

☀️ Meet Amy from Bloomington, Minnesota! 🌸

With 13 years of experience as a CTRS at Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, Amy has made a lasting impact on her patients through creative, nature-based activities. From designing a sensory garden at the hospital to engaging her kids in fairy garden adventures at home, Amy is a true advocate for the therapeutic power of horticulture.

She’s loved the Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture course and exploring the GrowTH Network’s resources, especially the activity database that has inspired so many fun and healing sessions.

Want to dive deeper into therapeutic horticulture like Amy? The registration deadline for our next cohort is September 1: https://rootinnature.ca/advancing-skills-in-therapeutic-horticulture/

We love hearing from our first Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture students! 🎓👩🏽‍💻

Are you looking to advance your skills in therapeutic horticulture? Click here for more information on this CTHP™ certification course: https://rootinnature.ca/advancing-skills-in-therapeutic-horticulture/

Horticultural therapy (HT) and therapeutic horticulture (TH) are both goal-oriented, but they approach goals differently.

In HT, we set specific treatment goals—like improving mental and physical well-being through gardening. For example, a goal might be for participants to feel less anxious or depressed after completing a gardening project.

TH, on the other hand, focuses on broader and more flexible goals, allowing the experience to guide the outcome.

Check out some activity examples from Root in Nature’s sortable Activity Database here!

Follow .in.nature for more insights and tips! 🌻

Curious about our CTHP™ certification and Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture course? We've got you covered! Swipe through this FAQ to learn about the course structure, certification, time commitment and more.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Why is the price lower for GrowTH Network members?

🙋🏽‍♀️ What are the course requirements and commitments?

🙋🏽‍♀️ How does the CTHP™ certification add value?

Have a question that wasn't answered? Reach out to us anytime! We're happy to help.

Ready to take your therapeutic horticulture skills to the next level? Enroll in our September or November cohorts!

Learn more here: https://rootinnature.ca/advancing-skills-in-therapeutic-horticulture/

In case you missed the information session on the Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture course and Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner - CTHP™ certification process, a recording is now available on the course webpage. 🎥

If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to either Katie or Alexis anytime!

Access the recording here: https://rootinnature.ca/advancing-skills-in-therapeutic-horticulture/

The International People Plant Symposium showcased the impact of horticulture on human health, bringing together leaders in the field from around the globe.

From keynote addresses by Dr. Rachel Bragg and Sue Stuart Smith to inspiring stories of healing and connection, Alexis, Katie and Kristin share their insights and reflections from this inspirational event in our latest blog.

We left reflecting on these key questions, among others outlined in the blog:

📣 How do you explain therapeutic horticulture to stakeholders?
⚖️ How do you balance people over production in the garden?
🌎 Do you know if your clients experience climate anxiety?

Read the blog here: https://rootinnature.ca/international-people-plant-symposium-highlights/

We ❤️ StrongerU Senior Fitness! Root in Nature customers also get $75 off the SeniorU Instructor Course Bundle. Message for details!

When you sign up to become a StrongerU instructor, you're enrolling for more than just high-quality senior fitness training 🤔 you get unbeatable discounts off other incredible programs that enrich the lives of the older adults you serve! 💪🤗

Like $75 off Root in Nature’s virtual, self-paced Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture course + GrowTH Network Bundle 🌿💗

Get an overview of the principles and practices of horticultural therapy, including the physical, social and psychological benefits of working with plants and access to a robust database with over 125 step-by-step activities. Learn more here: https://rootinnature.ca/intro-to-therapeutic-horticulture-course/

To see more of what we have to offer and get your exclusive link to perks like this one, email us at [email protected]! 👀

🎉🌿 We’re excited to celebrate our first Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner - CTHP™!

Since 2016, Tammy Bryant has been dedicated to enhancing the well-being of those living with dementia. Currently studying to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at California State University Sacramento, she is eager to integrate Root in Nature’s activities into her repertoire.

A passionate gardener, she dreams of creating a community pumpkin patch and is thrilled to blend her love for breadmaking with therapeutic horticulture. Her innovative approach promises to bring joy and enrichment to those she serves. 🌸🍞

Learn more about our Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture course and CTHP™ certification program here: https://rootinnature.ca/advancing-skills-in-therapeutic-horticulture/

📢 FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR CANADIAN SENIOR-SERVING CHARITIES! 📢

HelpAge Canada’s Age Better program is now offering the Innovative Programming Grant. Canadian registered charities dedicated to serving seniors can receive up to $10,000 to enhance their programs and services for older adults. This grant is designed to support creative and impactful initiatives that promote the health, engagement, and well-being of seniors.

Eligible organizations must be Canadian registered charities focused on senior care. This funding is a fantastic chance to launch or expand programs that make a real difference in the lives of older adults, like our therapeutic horticulture training program!

Discover more about the grant and the training program here:
https://helpagecanada.ca/our-programs/canadian-programs/age-better/
Root in Nature's team training program: https://rootinnature.ca/corporate-team-training-resources/

There’s not much I love more than a morning canoe with the family. 🛶🪷

Hope you’re making time for R & R and the things you love this weekend! ☀️

It was invigorating to hear from all of the amazing speakers at the International People Plant Symposium last week, including one of my favourite authors Sue Stuart-Smith.

She talked about patience and destruction in the garden and it reminded me of this passage from her fabulous book ‘The Well-Gardened Mind’:

“The great thing about being destructive in the garden is that it is not only permissible, it is necessary, because if you don’t do it you will be overrun. So many acts of garden care are infused with aggression, whether it is yielding the pruning shears, double digging the vegetable patch, slaughtering the slugs, killing black fly, ripping up goose grass, or rooting out nettles. You can throw yourself into any or all of these in a whole hearted and uncomplicated way because they are a form of destructiveness that’s in the service of growth.

A long session in the garden like this can leave you feeling dead on your feet but strangely renewed inside, both purged and re-energized, as if you have worked on yourself in the process. It’s a kind of gardening catharsis.”

Wishing you all a gardening catharsis at this time of year. 💚

Katie and Alexis will be hosting a live virtual 30 minute information session on the Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture course and the Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner - CTHP™ certification process.

A recording will be available for download on the website if you're unable to make the July 31 session.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out to either Katie or Alexis anytime!

Register here: https://lnkd.in/e2KestW4

Register here: https://rootinnature.ca/advancing-skills-in-therapeutic-horticulture/

Walking the talk by taking a nature break at the International People Plant Symposium. 🌿 It’s been an incredible conference so far- well done Thrive! 👏

(Just missing Kristin who sat this one out).

July’s Birth Month Flowers are: Larkspur & Water Lily 🪻🌸

Let’s explore the therapeutic benefits and precautions of larkspur and water lily in therapeutic horticulture:

🪻 Larkspur (Delphinium): Symbolizing lightness and levity, larkspur brings a vibrant colour to the garden. However, caution is advised as all parts of the plant can be toxic if ingested. Proper handling and placement are crucial in gardens accessible to children and pets.

🌸 Water lily: Known for its calming beauty, the water lily represents purity and enlightenment. In therapeutic horticulture, it has the ability to create relaxing environments, perfect for meditation and mindfulness practices. While not typically toxic, ensure water lilies are grown in clean, non-polluted water sources to maintain their therapeutic benefits.

Let’s appreciate these beautiful flowers, while being mindful of their unique therapeutic properties and safety considerations.

🎉 Celebrating one year of the GrowTH Network! 🌿

Over the past year, the GrowTH Network has connected more than 200 members who are practicing therapeutic horticulture around the world. We thank each of you for making this a welcoming and collaborative space for all. 💚🌍

Here’s to many more years of practical resource-sharing, collaboration and growing this incredible field together! 🌱🎉

Learn more here: https://rootinnature.ca/growth-network/

On this Canada Day, I’m reflecting on a beautiful story shared by a former co-worker.

Before founding Root in Nature, I spent seven years as CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa. In one of our staff meetings we asked team members to find a photo of a moment they experienced awe or gratitude and share the story with their co-workers.

One of the team members told a story from a family hike in Bon Echo Park. His daughter put a red maple leaf on a birch log.

Silently, the rest of the family started gathering leaves, one by one, and placing them on the log until they formed the Canadian Flag. 🇨🇦

He described this as a powerful moment experienced in nature with his family. 🍁

~Alexis

June is Rose Month! 💐

Roses are a wonderful multi-sensory plant  in therapeutic horticulture with many practical applications from flower arranging and botanical crafts to culinary creations and  propagation.

🌹 Sight: The vibrant and diverse colours of roses, from bold pinks to pale yellows, offer visual interest in the garden.

🌹Taste: Roses (when safe to consume [free of dyes, pesticides, pollution etc.]) can be a lovely addition to water, infusions or used as a garnish.

🌹 Smell: Their fragrance can reduce stress and anxiety, promoting relaxation, memory recall and storytelling

🌹 Touch: Feeling the soft petals and sturdy stems can be grounding, offering a tactile connection to nature. Always be careful of thorns and remove them in advance based on your risk assessment.

🌹Sound: Often covered in buzzing pollinators, roses are often a hot spot for bees.

Whether you’re tending a rose garden or enjoying a bouquet, take a moment to appreciate these sensory delights.

Take in these beautiful bouquets in-the-making from our therapeutic horticulture session with the inspiring women of the Mamisarvik Healing Centre.

Mamisarvik provides invaluable support and healing for Inuit women, offering a safe space to connect, grow and thrive. They empower and uplift Inuit women through various therapeutic programs. We’re honoured to be a part of their journey. 💚

Photo and session credit to Andrea Butt 🙏🏽

And thank you to Rosalind for the flower donations! 💐

Root in Nature is honoured to participate on the Birch Path Healing Forest committee. We recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day as a day to celebrate the history, heritage, and resilience of Indigenous Peoples.

The Birch Path Healing Forest at the Just Food Community Farm is a dedicated space that is part of the National Healing Forest Initiative. It is a space for healing, learning, sharing, and reflecting on Canada’s history and the relationships among Indigenous Peoples and those who arrived as settlers, and about our inter-relationships with the lands and all beings here.

The Birch Path Healing Forest features a Medicine Wheel garden. Native plants including the striking wiigwaasag (many birch trees) that line the path, are essential for the lives of Anishinaabe Nations as food sources, medicine, and as teachers. Community volunteers have helped our committee establish the garden while sharing plant teachings and stories.

There will be an official launch later this year along with more opportunities for community members to come together to learn and to connect in the spirit of reconciliation, which involves care and respect for all beings.

Learn more here: https://www.nationalhealingforests.ca/

Elevate your career in Therapeutic Horticulture with our CTHP™ Certification course! 🌿

This comprehensive program, led by Katie McGillivray, HTR, includes advanced techniques, specialized applications, and diverse approaches within the field of therapeutic horticulture.

Benefit from professional development, enhanced marketability, and increased career opportunities.

✅ Choose your one-month period to complete the course
✅ Complete self-paced and live virtual elements
✅ Join our GrowTH Network for ongoing support

Learn more here and reach out if you have any questions!: https://rootinnature.ca/advancing-skills-in-therapeutic-horticulture/