I grew up on a farm in England and on leaving school  trained as a registered nurse (RN). Having worked as an RN for many years in both England and Canada, I realized I needed a new career direction. On a busy surgical unit there just wasn’t enough time for me to work in accordance with my values. The vocation of nursing seemed to have changed. I wanted to reconnect with people and ultimately re-establish my connection to the land.

After moving from Edmonton to Nanaimo ten years ago I began my search for   a new career. I soon discovered Horticultural Therapy (HT), a formal practice that uses plants, horticultural activities, and the garden landscape to promote well-being for its participants. It seemed ideal: I could combine my love of working with people and my passion for gardening and nature.

On the long journey to qualification I volunteered at the Nanaimo Community Gardens, Chartwell Malaspina Care Residence, Eagle Park Health Care facility in Qualicum under the guidance of Connie Kuramoto (Gardens on the go), and at Providence Farm in Duncan. I completed a horticultural therapy certificate course with Ann Kent  http://www.catkingardens.ca and in 2016 I finally became a registered Horticultural Therapist.

Initially I worked at Providence Farm in the various programs the farm has to offer; I also helped with the creation of a healing garden in the form of a labyrinth. In 2019 I became the coordinator for the St Ann’s Garden Club, a day program dedicated to older adults and seniors with age related dementia, serious mental illness or substance use issues. Providence Farm is an amazing place to work – really a dream job, but a long commute from Nanaimo.

While working at Providence Farm I saw the amazing effect that plants and the connection to nature can have on people’s lives. Working as part of that extraordinary community inspired me to start my own business with a profound sense of purpose.

Tarragon Tree Creative Support was launched in April 2020. My mission is to support people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia to lead purposeful and engaged lives through HT. I wanted to create a service that could reach people who were still living at home but unable to come to a day program like St Ann’s Garden Club.

The pandemic was not very well timed from my perspective! So I switched my focus to care residences where seniors have experienced dislocation and isolation during this time. Tarragon Tree is providing an HT program at Chartwell Malaspina Gardens Care Residence, and I also hope to engage with more clients in the community this year as the pandemic wanes.

Throughout our lives, most of us have some connection to nature: it is where we can “be” and grow, to relax and experience restoration. This connection does not end in later life – in fact it grows. It is a part of our identity, our sense of self. Helping seniors maintain that connection brings me a deep sense of fulfilment and helps them to live with purpose, meaning, dignity and variety, whatever their challenges.

Sidebar: About Horticultural Therapy

Horticultural Therapy has many proven benefits. It can promote mobility, improve muscle movement, motor skills, balance and coordination. It can reduce social isolation by stimulating communication, and satisfying needs to be nurturing, caring and creative. It improves self-esteem and reactivates lifetime skills, creates a sense of purpose, personal growth and meaning. And it can reduce stress by providing relaxation through sensory stimulation in a non-threatening environment.

To learn more about HT

https://landscapeontario.com/horticultural-therapy-from-coast-to-coast

Liz Reynolds, HTR
Tarragon Tree Creative Support

https://www.tarragon-tree.ca  

https://www.facebook.com/tarragonnanaimo  

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