garden therapy - DG2 Design

Mar 12 2018

Healing gardens for Veterans

By: Christina Hughey

When returning from war, soldiers will have to adapt back to regular civilian life, it might be hard for some to adjust right away. In addition to the stress of adapting, some may have been wounded from the war physically and or mentally. Some veterans may be dealing with new obstacles like learning to use a wheel chair or be getting around on crutches. This can make adjusting to regular life more complicated. Some soldiers will suffer from PTSD, TBI, major depression, or other invisible wounds. Some say that transitioning from a high stress combat zone to regular life is the hardest part of service. It’s not uncommon to find soldiers living in a natural setting or off the grid for these reasons.

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Visiting a healing garden is good for all veterans, whether dealing with injuries or not. Healing gardens give an option to relax alone or be with others having fun and getting to socialize. Along with all the health benefits nature already gives, healing gardens also offer more specific health benefits for veterans. This includes a veteran suffering from PTSD or other brain injuries. A study done by the University of Michigan stated veterans that participated in extended outdoor group recreation showed signs of improving mental health.

Mar 09 2018

Kids Grow in the Garden

By: Christina Hughey

It’s finally that time of year again. Spring! Everything is starting to grow and new life begins. Just the other week I arrived at a friend’s house to see her and her beautiful children finish up planting seeds. They smiled as they placed the seeds into the dirt, laughing making a bit of a mess with dirt. It makes me so happy to see young children involved with gardening projects, its so important that kids get their hands dirty and help in the garden.

Some of the benefits include healthier lifestyles, learning the value of plants for food, gardening can be an educational tool, and of course gardening is just good for the soul. Whether you live in the city or on a big farm there is gardening that can be done!

A few garden projects you can do with your kids:

Growing seeds in the windowsill is a small garden project that anyone can do.
Growing plants in pots on the porch.
If you are really wanting to dive into this, your kids can help you grow plants in a raised garden bed, or you could work together to grow a couple fruits or vegetables in your yard!

The opportunities are endless! What a wonderful activity for you and your child.

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Oct 06 2017

Friday Fact: Horticultural Therapy

An important part of landscape architecture is not just design, but how the design makes a person feel. Christina Hughey, our Horticulture Therapy specialist, is here to provide information regarding these aspects of design.

The first tidbit is how gardens can impact elderly. Well designed gardens can improve behavior and moods associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Research by Dr. Joanne Westphal indicates that Alzheimer’s patients who spent ten minutes or more a day engaging in a garden activity improved in physical and mental health. These patients improved in mood, blood pressure, heart rate, and requested less pain medication.

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