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Nature Heals Conference 2013

February 23, 2013 | by Naomi Sachs

A forest of redbud dogwood (Courtesy Henry Domke)

People, Plants, Animals, and the (Re-)connection to Health

The Nature Heals Conference, presented by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Nature-Based Therapeutic Services, takes place Thursday and Friday, March 14 and 15 in Chaska, MN. Nature Heals is an annual event and conversation about the neuroscience of human bonds with the natural world, including plant and animal interaction, and the ways that connecting with nature increase individual health and community well-being.

The two-day event will provide participants with new, research-based information to integrate into programming, policy-making, and fundraising in government, corporations, non-profits, social services, healthcare industry, community groups, faith-based organizations, schools and families.

On Thursday, March 15, Nature Heals will feature authors Eva Selhub, Your Brain on Nature, and Meg Olmert, Made for Each Other. The authors will engage in a discussion about their journeys to understand the health impact of nature on humans. On Friday, the University will roll out its new Nature-Based Therapy offerings and the audience will engage with the authors in experiential interactions and conversation about how individual health and community well-being can increase through interaction with plants and animals.

Visit the conference site to learn more about conference workshops, an interactive performance titled, “We Are Stardust” and registration details. Early bird fees apply to those who register before February 28. If you have other questions, please contact the Arboretum Education Department at 952-443-1422 or arbedu@umn.edu.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday, 2/13/13

February 13, 2013 | by Naomi Sachs

Possumhaw berries image from www.henrydomke.com

This image is from Henry Domke’s fabulous new website, henrydomke.com. Henry is not only an incredibly talented photographer, he also happens to be one of the nicest guys I know. For a healthy dose of nature imagery and to learn more about his installations in healthcare facilities, visit his website.

Manuscript submitted!

February 10, 2013 | by Naomi Sachs

Healing garden at McKee Medical Center in Loveland, CO. Photo courtesy of BHA Design

Sorry for the lack of blog posts over the last couple of weeks. Clare Cooper Marcus and I were in the throes of finishing the manuscript for our book, Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-Based Approach to Designing Healing Gardens and Restorative Outdoor Spaces, to be published by John Wiley in Sons in October.

More details to come as the date gets closer, and I plan to post excerpts from time to time.

Here is one, something submitted by a TLN member and quoted in the book:

Having spent many weeks in the hospital left an indelible imprint on the way I experience pain, suffering, and loss within the recognized healthcare environment. Surely this fear and anxiety that one feels in this controlled and somewhat clinical building can leave one feeling more vulnerable, fragile, and scared. Just by being outside and with nature, to smell and touch the plants, reduced the depression and dread. I think more positive thoughts, am hopeful, and if I cry I feel the plants understand and do not judge or cringe.

We’ve been having great discussions on Linked In and Facebook and we generally post recent news and upcoming events there, so if you haven’t yet joined those conversations, please do!

To learn more about BHA Design’s McKee Medical Center, visit their website.

Food gardens are healing gardens – Guest post by Filiz Satir

January 3, 2013 | by Naomi Sachs

A boy and his homegrown berries.

“Food insecurity can have wide-ranging detrimental consequences on the physical and mental health of adults (and) more vulnerable populations…Lack of access to a nutritious and adequate food supply has implications not only for the development of physical and mental disease, but also behaviors and social skills.” — Feeding America, U.S. hunger-relief charity

Food gardens are healing gardens
Guest post by Filiz Satir

Families with limited incomes often lack the means to put fresh, nutritious food on the table. In the “land of plenty” a stunning 1 in 6 adults, and 1 in 5 children suffer from poor nutrition and struggle with hunger.

In addition to food assistance programs, food banks and other hunger relief groups, American cities are witnessing a growth in urban agriculture and associated non-profits working to fight food insecurity. Programs that support urban and suburban food production are providing low-income families with the skills and tools to grow fresh, local and healthy food. One such group is Seattle’s Just Garden Project that builds home gardens for eligible families living 200 percent below the poverty line in King County, Washington.

“We are spreading the use of household gardens to help end hunger, improve day-to-day food security and decrease food-related health issues in lower income families,” says Stephanie Seliga, manager of Just Garden Project (JGP). Now in its third year, JGP builds 30 kitchen gardens a year for eligible low-income families and vulnerable groups. The recipients’ participation in the garden “build outs,” shifts their personal experience with food from one of being a consumer only to being a producer.

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Last post of 2012…

December 31, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

Photo by Henry Domke, www.henrydomke.com

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

Environments for Aging Conference 2013

December 22, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

Annual Environments for Aging Conference meets in New Orleans

APRIL 6 – 9, 2013 | The Roosevelt Waldorf Astoria Hotel

The annual Environments for Aging Conference meets in New Orleans, April 6-9, 2013. The three-day event offers the latest strategies and ideas for creating attractive and functional living environments that meet the needs of our aging population. Register now in order to receive early bird discounts.

Professionals attending — architects, design professionals, government officials and aging experts – will come together to share common goals in the areas of building, architecture and design. The conference offers networking opportunities with peers and myriad workshops in the latest innovations and best practices in the design of long-term and residential care settings.

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The Nature Principle – Guest book review by Lisa Horne

December 14, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

And while we are in book mode…

Lisa Horne’s review of Richard Louv‘s newest book, The Nature Principle was first posted on The Field, ASLA’s (American Society of Landscape Architects) Professional Practice Network blog. Which, if you haven’t checked it out, is worth a look, and even a bookmark. Lisa and ASLA were kind enough to allow the TLN to share the review here:

Seven years ago, Richard Louv coined the term “nature-deficit disorder” in his book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. He is now giving us possibilities to move beyond it in The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder. While the first book looked at nature’s absence from children’s daily lives, the second recognizes that the need for nature extends to all of us. The Nature Principle, as articulated by Louv, provides that nature is crucial for humans to be healthy—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

A strong thread of hope and optimism runs through these pages. Louv notes that arguments for environmental change have run from a first generation warning of catastrophe to a second generation argument of economic benefits to a third generation assertion that the environment impacts our well-being (Louv 284). Another unique concept he identifies is the value of human energy. Designers often think in terms of energy efficiency, but the human spirit renewed and refreshed by nature brings energy into a system as well.

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TLN recommends: Healing garden book picks 2012

December 13, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

This is the fourth year for TLN Blog book recommendations (!). If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for someone special (including yourself), here are some recommendations for beautiful books with a healing garden theme that are sure to inspire you and your giftees. These are all books that I own and refer to again and again. There are more academic and educational books out there, which are listed on the TLN’s References page. When you buy from any of the Amazon links on this post, you’ll be supporting the Therapeutic Landscapes Network as well. Through the Amazon Associates program, the TLN receives a percentage of each book sale. This is true for Amazon purchase at any time of the year, so please bookmark the link and use it when you shop there. Of course, if you can find the books locally, all the better.

My new favorite book is Patty Cassidy’s The Illustrated Practical Guide to Gardening for Seniors: How to maintain your outside space with ease into retirement and beyond. It is so richly illustrated and will be useful to all gardeners and aspiring gardeners. However, the emphasis is really on gardening for seniors and others who have difficulty with the more physical challenges of gardening. It’s a valuable and beautiful addition to the gardening book library.

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Wordless Wednesday, 12/12/12 – That’s a lot of 12s…

December 12, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

Photo by Henry Domke, www.henrydomke.com

TLN member stories: A healing garden for canines

November 27, 2012 | by Naomi Sachs

Corrie the Cairn Terrier in his "healing garden."

Corrie, enjoying some outdoor respite.

Who says healing gardens are just for people? Thanks to Marijean Stephenson, an RN and TLN member, for sharing this story:

One of my Cairn Terriers, Corrie, recently sustained a serious pelvic and spinal cord injury after being hit by a car. I returned home after working a night shift and found him at my doorstep, just waiting for me. While I was at work, Corrie had dug under the fence surrounding the yard and went out onto the road. He had apparently returned to that same place he had earlier escaped after sustaining his injury and scooted up to the doorstep of my house.

Corrie has been spending the past few days in a large veterinary ICU (Veterinary Referral Medical and Surgical Care) in Indianapolis. His prognosis is surprisingly good: he will not require surgery to repair his multiple fractures, and will eventually be able to romp around the yard like he normally had done. I had thought I would have to euthanize my dog. I still cannot believe this miracle.

After I got off work early yesterday evening, I drove to the hospital to visit him (this place has visitation 24/7). I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Corrie had been taken outside to their “healing garden” area by the veterinary staff. (more…)