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NSAC Digging
Deeper
Nova Scotia Agricultural College is digging deeper into the
therapeutic benefits of plants and gardens to improving the
cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual well-being
of individuals.
Horticultural therapy is the formal practice of using plants,
horticultural activities and the garden landscape to promote
well-being and is the focus of an international conference
being held at NSAC August 6- 8th, 2010.
“Our relationship with plants is as old as the species itself and there
is centuries of anecdotal evidence of the benefit of our relationship with plants
beyond basic nutrition,” said Conference Chair and NSAC Professor Dr. Norman
Goodyear. “My interest in being part of this conference is to raise awareness
of the profession and its value and to further the research where the body of
empirical evidence of the benefits of the people-plant interaction continues
to grow.”
The purpose of the conference Digging Deeper: Approaches to Research in Horticultural
Therapy and Therapeutic Horticulture, is to provide a forum for researchers,
educators and practitioners to discuss and develop a deeper understanding of
the depth and breadth of research currently being conducted in the field of Horticultural
Therapy and to highlight research needs with a particular focus on the practitioner.
The meeting will consist of thought-provoking presentations by invited speakers
as well as a diverse selection of oral, poster and workshop presentations
Keynote speaker is Elizabeth (Leah) R. Messer Diehl. Ms. Diehl began her work
in horticultural therapy in Chicago in 1993, where she started a therapeutic
and pre-vocational program for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities
at Misericordia Home. She has taught both landscape design and horticulture courses
at several universities and colleges and has published many papers on horticultural
therapy and therapeutic landscapes, the most recent being a chapter on healing
gardens in Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind. She lives in Gainesville,
Florida where she owns Terra Firma Design, a landscape architectural design firm.
The conference is a presentation of the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association
in partnership with the People Plant Council.
NSAC is a specialized university that cultivates learning and research, focusing
on improving and sustaining our environment for the health and well-being of
society.
For more information please visit http://nsac.ca/diggingdeeper
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