Teaching & Learning in the School Garden: Summer 2026

Readings:

• Define Horticultural Therapy:  American Horticultural Therapy Association.  "Definitions and Positions" <https://www.ahta.org/ahta-definitions-and-positions>
• Infographics:  Gardening Benefits for Health, Learning, and Healing: 
  • "Plants Do That, Health:  Green Exercise improves Body and Mind for Gardeners of All Ages." National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture. Bauske, E., Bennett, P., Bumgarner, N., Dorn, S., James, T., Kirk-Ballard, H., Smith, K. Available from:  https://consumerhort.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/health_graphic5.pdf 
  • PlantsDoThat Inside–Where We Heal. National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture. Hall, C., Thilmany, D., Mellard, S., Gray, J., Hamrick, D., Albin, C., Altman, K., Behe, B, Bumgarner, N., Calabro, J., Carson, J., Gordon, S., Gouge, D., Miller, M., Mostardi, S., Parker, P. and McBride, P. (2017). Available from:  https://consumerhort.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/PlantsDoThat-Indoors-WhereWeHeal.pdf
  • PlantsDoThat Inside–Where We Learn. National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture. Hall, C., Thilmany, D., Mellard, S., Gray, J., Hamrick, D., Albin, C., Altman, K., Behe, B, Bumgarner, N., Calabro, J., Carson, J., Gordon, S., Gouge, D., Miller, M., Mostardi, S., Parker, P. and McBride, P. (2017). Available from https://consumerhort.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/PlantsDoThat-Indoors-WhereWeLearn.pdf
• "The Human Benefits of Gardening and Visiting Public Gardens" Pacific Horticulture. Rakow, Don (2022). <https://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/the-human-benefits-of-gardening-and-visiting-public-gardens/>
•  Is gardening associated with greater happiness of urban residents? A multi-activity, dynamic assessment in the Twin-Cities region, USA. Graham Ambrose, Kirti Das, Yingling Fan, Anu Ramaswami. Landscape and Urban Planning, 2020; 198: 103776 DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103776
  

Videos:

• Horticultural Therapy Videos - the Horticultural Therapy Institute:  Youth in the Garden & Elders in the Garden: https://www.htinstitute.org/resources/videos/
• University of California - Horticultural Therapy:  Growing Vegetables for Physical and Mental Well-Being:  
   

 Garden Design:

• Principles of Biophilic Design by Dr. Stephen Kellert
• Principles of Universal Design by the University of California
• Plan an Accessible Garden through Cornell Garden-Based Learning
• The Horticultural Therapy Workbook  by Antioch University.  Learn more about sample activities for special populations (those with ADHD, autism, mental and physical challenges) and key design considerations for universal garden access.

LEARN MORE:

• Denver Botanic Gardens - Sensory and Autism Resources, Memory Loss and Veterans Programming:  https://www.botanicgardens.org/our-impact/therapeutic-horticulture
• Chicago Botanic Gardens - Beuhler Enabling Garden:  https://www.chicagobotanic.org/gardens/enabling
• Cape Fear Botanical Garden:  https://www.capefearbg.org/therapeutic-horticulture/

Continuing Education:  

• University of North Carolina - Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate Program:  https://ncbg.unc.edu/outreach/therapeutic-horticulture/
• Find a Certified Horticultural Therapist in your community to partner with through the North East Horticultural Therapy Network.

Related Research:

• Nature for Health & Equity - Friends of the Earth Europe: Website https://friendsoftheearth.eu/publication/nature-for-health-and-equity/
• Nearby Nature: A buffer of life stress among rural children. Wells, N.M. & Evans, G.W. (2003). Environment and Behavior, 35 (3), 311-330. <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/246924740_Nearby_Nature>

Cornell University Campus Links:

• Nature Rx Program:  Resources from Cornell University about the healing power of nature for students:  https://sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/campus-initiatives/land-water/nature-rx
• The Wells Lab:   Exploring the effects of nature on well-being, cognitive functioning, resilience and neurodiversity:  https://wellslab.human.cornell.edu/
• Cornell Garden-Based Learning:  Short Sensory Focused Activities:  https://gardening.cals.cornell.edu/lessons/activities/