Filtered by category: AHTA News Clear Filter

News from Binxia Xue PhD HTR, AHTA Board of Directors

Our special issue of Landscape Architecture of May 2024 on nature-based intervention has recently been published. It has been very well received in the Chinese academic and professional area of Horticultural Therapy and Therapeutic Horticulture, with more than 1,500 readings within a week, and more than twice the number of visits in the previous issues over a few months, which shows that the topic of  nature-based Intervention is becoming a hot topic in China. We would like to share with you all the full papers in this issue, and look forward to receiving extensive positive feedback and corrective comments and suggestions.

The rise of  nature-based intervention(we use NBI as an umbrella term for all kinds of natural therapies) in different countries around the world is due to a similar background. Rapid urbanization and economic and social development have dramatically changed the urban environment and people's lifestyles. Problems such as environmental pollution, sedentary behaviors, and excessive stress in life have made city dwellers face chronic diseases, psychological problems, and sub-health, which have become major factors affecting the well-being of individuals and families, as well as the harmony of society. The resulting medical costs have become a heavy burden for the state, families, and individuals, and people are eager to find a cheap and convenient way to cope with aging and various public health problems or to prevent epidemics, so natural healing has rightly become an attractive and ideal choice for the future.
Research on nature-based intervention systems mainly involves the training of therapists, the design of healing environments, the analysis of therapeutic populations, and the formulation of therapeutic plans, as well as the implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of various types of natural healing programs. In North America, Australia, Japan, and South Korea, people more likely adopt the American horticultural therapy system as a means of treatment; in Northern Europe, it is usually called nature-based therapy or nature-based rehabilitation program; in China, based on the nature-based intervention theories of various countries, an unique national certification system for forest gardening and recreation practitioners have been developed, which is a comprehensive nature-based intervention system that embraces a wide range of schools of thoughts and connotations in the world in the related areas, and has shown a broad prospect for development.

Currently, in the international academic field, nature-based intervention has shown an interdisciplinary and multi-system development trend, and has been constantly changing and innovating based on the main lines of clinical evidence, evidence-based assessment, and service expansion, expanding the breadth and depth of theoretical exploration and practical application, and updating the knowledge content and theoretical models. However, as an emerging professional and industrial field, there are still many bottlenecks in the research on nature-based intervention. Multidisciplinary integration, especially the characteristics of medical-industrial cooperation, increases the difficulty in the formation of the theoretical paradigm and knowledge chain; the complex health impact mechanism also restricts the validation of the scientific and evidence-based efficacy of nature-based intervention; and the dispersed and independent explorations of related theories and practices increase the risk of knowledge fragmentation. It is urgent to establish an international exchange and cooperation mechanism to promote the integration of knowledge and technological innovation, and to promote the quality and sustainable development of natural healing systems.

For this reason, we have organized this special issue, and are honored to have invited the well-known experts and scholars in the field of nature-based intervention in the world to contribute, including tenured Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA, co-founder of the American Horticultural Therapy Association and the International People and Plant Council, and Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science, Ms. Paula Relf;  Ms. Elizabeth Diehl, Director of the Department of Horticulture at the University of Florida, Horticultural Therapist-Master of AHTA, Former editor in chief of the American Horticultural Therapy Association's ‘Therapeutic Horticulture’; Ms Anna Maria, Associate Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences(SLU), and member of the Research and Development Strategy Committee of the Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden; Claudia Kam Yuk Lai, honorary professor in the School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University;  Wang Kefang of the School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University; Prof. Li Shuhua of Tsinghua University; Associate Prof. Liu Yuelai of Tongji University. The renowned experts invited have carefully prepared academic papers on horticultural therapy, therapeutic horticulture, and nature-based rehabilitation, the topics covers from the perspectives of theoretical exposition, type analysis, to practical exploration, offering an unique interpretation and weaving of a panorama of theoretical framework, technical support, and practical expansion of nature-based intervention.
I would also like to thank Professor Paula Relf, who at the age of 80, out of her love for horticultural therapy/therapeutic horticulture, has written a paper of nearly 20,000 words, which has helped scholars, teachers, students, and practitioners from all over the world to clarify the nuances of the many schools of nature-based intervention, and looked into the deeper issues of the long-term development of horticultural therapy, which is very admirable and appreciated.

We are grateful to the Journal of Landscape Architecture for providing a platform for high-end academic exchanges and a valuable opportunity to invite renowned scholars in the field of nature-based intervention from different countries contribute their articles. I would like to thank the editor-in-chief, Prof. Zheng Xi, for writing a wonderful foreword for the topic, which is full of strong Chinese ancient classics flavor, and I would like to thank all the editors for their rigorous checking and my students for their excellent work, which guaranteed the smooth publication of this topic.

I also hope to receive the valuable support of President Lana and all the Board Directors of AHTA to continue the ongoing research and exploration of horticultural therapy-related topics. Thank you very much!
Access the Issue

Waxed Flower Activity

Waxed Flower Activity

By Donna Hunt and Joanne Beckman, Master Gardener

Flower waxing is a fun and relatively easy project with certain precautions. Never forget it is hot wax and should never be left unattended.  The best way and safest is to use a single burner hot plate to heat the wax. Keep the burner away from the edge of the table. With that being said, let's wax!

Waxed flowers can be used in centerpieces, made into pins for wearing, are great to photograph and more. Note: The waxed flower should not be placed directly on a table, use a plate or coasters. The best flowers are larger blooms such as camellias, roses, mums, and azaleas. You may want to experiment with your fav.

Read More

Internship Update

Internship Update

The AHTA board recognizes the challenges with finding internship supervisors for our members. Online supervision was developed to help address this challenge. It is important to note why AHTA requires supervision of internship hours for professional registration. Professional registration standards have been developed using best practices. One element of professional registration is the supervised internship. A supervised internship helps to bridge the knowledge gained through educational programs with real world applications. It takes our knowledge and puts it into practice so we can further develop our skills and abilities.

The AHTA board recognizes that many people seeking professional registration come from other healthcare backgrounds and have already completed a supervised internship. We understand that the geographic distribution of HTRs has continued to pose challenges for many. We also recognize that someone who is already a certified or licensed healthcare professional has completed a clinically supervised internship, and some healthcare professionals are private practitioners who operate their own business.

Read More

Power of Sacred Places

An excellent article to remind us of the health, social and economic benefits of therapeutic landscapes. 

View Article

Nature Sacred in Forbes

Read More

How grief gardening helped two PNWers cope with loss

By Misha Valencia

Featuring contributions from our very own President, Lana Dreyfuss. 

Read More

When mental health therapy starts in the garden

Did you see this recent article on Seattle Times? 

When mental health therapy starts in the garden

Read More

Rhea R. McCandliss 1967 Speech

A reflection on our past, a glimpse into the future.

Submitted by: Derrick Stowell, AHTA Immediate Past President

In October 1967, Rhea R. McCandliss gave a talk at the professional staff meeting of Menninger Memorial Hospital located at the time in Topeka, KS. Rhea was instrumental in the development of the horticultural therapy profession. She was instrumental in the founding of the National Council for Therapy and Rehabilitation through Horticulture in 1973, now called the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA). She also conducted a valuable national study of hospitals using horticulture as therapy 1968 (Relf, 2019). Over the years the AHTA has collected publications and writings of those in the profession. I recently read McCandliss’ essay, I felt that the words spoken in 1967 are still important for our profession today. One statement in this speech clarified the difference between simply gardening and horticultural therapy:

Read More

World Therapeutic Horticulture Day

World Therapeutic Horticulture Day

Thanks to the efforts of a collaboration of international organizations focused on horticulture as therapy, the inaugural World Therapeutic Horticulture Day will be held on May 18, 2023. Thank you to Fiona Thackeray from Trellis Scotland for taking the leadership on this project.

It is our goal to raise awareness about the therapeutic benefits of horticulture throughout the world. It is our hope that this day will continue to grow in the years to come. Be sure to tag AHTA in any of your social media posts for this day!

Read More

Important AHTA Updates

Important AHTA Updates

Internships

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the AHTA made some adjustments to our internship requirements. These included extending the time for students to complete internships that were affected by the pandemic.

Internship Extension

Read More

Houseplants and Health Benefits

Read the latest article from Time magazine about the health benefits of houseplants.

Read the article

MLK Day of Service

AHTA member, Jeanne Schultz, spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day planting trees for the Dunwoody community. Watch the video to learn more about the amazing experience!

Watch the Video

Veteran Shares the Healing Power of Flowers

Read More......

Applications Now Open for Therapeutic Garden Grants

Learn More and Submit an Application

Celebrating Horticultural Champions

Congratulations to AHTA member Perla Sofia Curbelo for the B.Y. Morrison Communication Award. AHTA also congratulates Dr. Naomi A. Sachs for her contributions to the therapeutic garden design field.

2021 AHS Great American Gardeners Awards

The Blooming Effects of Flowers on Mind and Body

The Blooming Effects of Flowers on Mind and Body

Read More

AHTA President Honored with Award

AHTA President, Derrick Stowell, receives the Horticultural Therapy Award from The American Horticultural Society (AHS).

Learn More

Cheri Larsen, HTR - News from Cincinnati

Cheri Larsen, HTR talks about new horticultural project.

Watch the Video

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Irene Brady-Barber, HTR talks about the horticultural therapy program at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, in Boothbay, Maine. 

Read More

9/11 Legacy Garden Program

How gardens can create hope and wellbeing in uncertain times.

Read More
Additional Pictures

New HERD Research Paper: Effects of Biophilic Nature Imagery

Effects of Biophilic Nature Imagery on Indexes of Satisfaction in Medically Complex Physical Rehabilitation Patients: An Exploratory Study

Recent research concludes that the presence of biophilic nature imagery has a significant effect on a patient's experience during hospital stays. These findings have implications in settings where real nature is prohibited by logistics or infection protocols and support the benefits of nature exposure for those who might not have the opportunity due to their medical situation. 

Matthew J. Wichrowski, MSW, HTR | John R. Corcoran, DPT | Francois Haas, Ph.D. | Greg Sweeney, DPT | Arlene Mcgee, RN, MA, MS

Read More