iv. HORTICULTURAL THERAPY AND SERVICE PROVIDERS

Therapeutic Gardening was investigated in this research as a concept related to the definition of ‘self-sufficiency’ gardening, and is further evaluated in the next section of this report.

The significant infrastructure of organisations were unable to be explored as succinctly as wished, due to its largess on the landscape. Horticultural therapy providers span the human services community. Diverse ability, frail age, rehabilitative and medical service providers are all involved in therapeutic and productive gardens.

Responses from managers of, respectively; the Kevin Heinze Garden Centre; and the Royal Talbot Therapy Garden; represented this sector, but respondents involved in community gardens, school gardens and garden clubs also worked in the field of horticultural therapy. Many other respondents referred to the Victorian Horticultural Therapy Association, including its work in school ‘edible classroom’ gardens.

Other examples of gardens involved in horticultural therapy range from Olympic Village Primary School Community Garden, Kew Learning Centre Kitchen Garden and the Collingwood Children’s Farm.

Horticultural Therapy Association of Victoria