In physical rehabilitation, horticultural therapy can help strengthen muscles and improve coordination, balance, and endurance. Horticultural therapy helps improve memory, cognitive abilities, task initiation, language skills, and socialization. Horticultural therapy techniques are employed to assist participants to learn new skills or regain those that are lost. It is widely used within a broad range of rehabilitative, vocational, and community settings. Today, horticultural therapy is accepted as a beneficial and effective therapeutic modality. The therapeutic benefits of garden environments have been documented since ancient times. Horticultural therapy is a time-proven practice. Wide paths covered with hard pack offer a stable surface for those using mobility aids while offering a permeable surface for rainwater drainageįabric-covered areas prevent weed growth and smooth the ground for those using mobility aids Shady areas for relief from the sun, especially for people who are on sun-sensitizing medication The garden features raised beds of varying heights, and with a lip that a wheelchair user could pull up to and reach with ease Visitors of all ages can come for self-guided tours and look for plant identification signs. Local school groups are invited to learn about gardening techniques. Please join our email list to be notified of any upcoming programs. We are working to provide therapeutic and educational activities for people of all ability levels, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and all those who would benefit from community-based horticultural activities.Ĭurrently, we are working to provide programming for various groups of people, including students and youth. Maintain and improve garden accessibility Maintain gardens: water, weed, divide, plant, mulch The Garden’s mission is to provide Horticultural Therapy to people with disabilities to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our goal is to return to the Garden's original purpose of providing therapeutic and educational activities for people of all ability levels.įor over 20 years, Anna McLaughlin’s dedication as program director and horticultural therapist at The Arc of Blackstone Valley has transformed Slater Park’s old Zoo site into a beautiful place for residents and visitors. We are working to save the Garden and raise the funds needed to keep the Garden an accessible, inclusive space. The Friends of Daggett Farm is a new group, formed by folks with a passion for accessibility, horticultural therapy, and inclusive educational programming. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 and changes to DOJ guidance about what constitutes "therapy", the garden has lost its programmatic focus and funding over the past two years. Anna, who at the time worked for the ARC of Blackstone Valley, built the gardens to be accessible to people of all ability levels-using upcycled jungle gym equipment, donated tables and carts, hard pack paths and brick ramps for wheelchair access, raised beds of varying heights, and adaptive tools. The Garden at Daggett Farm was started by horticultural therapist Anna McLaughlin in 1999. The Friends of Daggett Farm is a group of volunteer URI Master Gardeners working to save the therapeutic horticultural Garden at Daggett Farm (which is located on public land in Slater Park in Pawtucket, RI).
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