GROWING WEED. ..
X
http://www.fortwayne.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150606/NEWS/320154260/1005/NEWS09
X
A client of Redemption House plants peas in the "Little Sprouts" garden Thursday morning at Slataper Farm. (By Ellie Bogue if The News-Sentinel ).
X
  |  Print |
Last updated: Sat. Jun. 06, 2015 - 11:06 am EDT
Healing through gardening
Dressed in beekeeper’s gear, Keith Owen was removing part of a honeybee comb while women from the Redemption House watched, mostly from a safe distance. He was checking to see whether he needed to add another frame to the hive. The urban farm on Slataper Street is on 2 acres across from McCormick Place apartments. People who live in the apartments and are a part of Project HEAL — for Help to Eat, Accept and Live — use the gardens to grow healthy food while learning how to become healthier eaters. On Thursday, clients from Redemption House were there to weed and plant as a part of their horticultural therapy. Redemption House is a faith-based nonprofit that works with women suffering from drug and alcohol abuse who might otherwise be sentenced to jail. The Bees and Carrots program gives clients hands-on vocational training that combines rehabilitation and healing, and allows clients to create a food garden. Holly Chaille, who runs the program, attended and graduated from horticultural therapy class at the Chicago Botanical gardens in December. The class awards a horticultural therapy certificate students go through the one-year program. The course focuses on the development of horticultural therapy skills and methods. The program combines on-site training at the Chicago Botanic Garden with online learning. Once completed, students are able to use horticultural therapy activities in their current or future health career areas. The women in the program say they find peace working in the gardens. It makes them feel better, and for some the companionship of working together helps, too. Chaille points out that there are scientific reasons for that. Gardening has been proved to help patients with depression and other mental illnesses. Apparently, the combination of physical activity, awareness of natural surroundings, cognitive stimulation and satisfaction from work all add up to make the patients feel better. A long-term study has shown it is good for brain health; daily gardening was one of the single-biggest reducers of dementia, reducing incidence by 36 percent. Referring to the work of biologist Edward O. Wilson, Chaille told the group that Wilson explained it as being instinctively drawn to connect with other living, growing things. It makes people feel a part of the “web of life.” Physically, vitamin D produced by people when they’re exposed to sunlight can boost the immune system. Dirt can help, too. Chaille said friendly soil bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae, when eaten or inhaled, relieves symptoms of psoriasis, allergies and asthma. Redemption House has its own backyard gardens, started a few years ago with Chaille’s help through the Bees and Carrots program. What they grow there, they eat. The women are required to work in the garden each week as part of the program. While the women were being quizzed about whether they were missing anything in their garden, one woman asked for candy. “You have cherry tomatoes,” Chaille said with a laugh. “Those are candy!” Once the Slataper gardens have more vegetables available, the Redemption House women will help with a Wednesday farmers market as part of the program. ebogue@news-sentinel.com X Heather Koch writes out labels for garden beds as she helps women in the HEAL program at Slataper garden Thursday morning. Koch is from Redemption House which was helping out as a part of the gardening program they are involved in, "Bees and Carrots." ( Photo by Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel ).  X Heather Koch writes out labels for garden beds as she helps women in the HEAL program at Slataper garden Thursday morning. Koch is from Redemption House which was helping out as a part of the gardening program they are involved in, "Bee and Carrots." ( Photo by Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel ).  X Women from the Redemption House had a sit down class with Holly Chaille, who runs the Bees and Carrots program. The program gives horticultural therapy while teaching them gardening skills. Chaille is rear left. ( Photo by Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel ).  X Mokaing, front and Tayioke Ma working at planting seeds the middle of a row of tomatoes Thursday morning at Slataper Urban Farm. ( Photo by Ellie Bogue of The News-Sentinel ).  gilligans island.. X X | ||||||||||||
No comments:
Post a Comment