HORTICULTURAL THERAPY is a process utilizing plants and horticultural activities to improve the social, educational, psychological and physical adjustment of persons thus improving their body, mind and spirits. Recently the American Horticultural Therapy Association, AHTA, emphasized that a Horticultural Therapist uses horticulture as therapeutic intervention and as a rehabilitative medium. Horticultural therapy is an innovative treatment using plants and plant-related activities to assist in one’s rehabilitation process. Its therapeutic value offers a change of pace from traditional therapies.

People working with plants can improve mobility, balance, endurance, memory and socialization skills. Muscles can be strengthened and coordination improved. Activities may include planting seeds, watering or repotting and propagating plants, drying or pressing flowers and working outside where gardening can be accomplished by the use of adaptive modalities and tools. Ergonomic gardening tools and accessories are often used to ease the physical stress on the gardeners

Talmar, in collaboration with Baltimore County Recreation and Parks, Office of Therapeutic Recreation, provides horticultural programming using therapy, recreation, community work experiences and vocational training targeting individuals with disabilities. This collaboration is an innovative and creative way to share resources (staffing, equipment and supplies in exchange for community services) to provide a quality, efficient and effective program that otherwise would not be possible. Programs and services takes place in the beautiful 367 acre Cromwell Valley Park in Baltimore County MD on 10 tillable acres. Activities provide year round program of indoor and seasonal outdoor gardening opportunities, open weekdays and also Saturday morning in the spring, summer and fall of the year. Services are intergenerational, family oriented, all-inclusive, and representing true community involvement. Programs are provided to individuals, schools, summer camps, Recreation and Parks programs and serve community daycare centers, gardening clubs, and senior centers.

We have a 40 x 60 foot accessible greenhouse. The greenhouse provides the foreground for many activities. It is there that horticultural therapy programs are provided. Participants also use this space to learn greenhouse operation and management. Whether vocational or pre-vocational, activities are directly related to the cut flower business at TALMAR.

Activities primarily involve the transplanting of seedlings to the fields, maintenance, harvesting flowers, bunching for sales and direct sales to the general public or contracted floral customers. To date, four acres of land is delegated for the cutting gardens and is planted with annual and perennial flowers, medicinal and culinary herbs. The farm is opened to the general public one day a week, where they cut their own flowers. Participants cut and bunch flowers on those mornings to sell to anyone wishing to purchase them prearranged. Two days a week, participants sell directly to area markets and to area offices nearby. Consumers with special needs from area schools and adultservice provider agency clients come to TALMAR having requested to work in a greenhouse environment, an ideal environment in which to apply Horticultural Therapy practices. The program provides consumers an opportunity to improve their motor, language and social skills while working and having a good time experiencing the thrill of growing and harvesting flowers.  Work is done in small groups, no more than six individuals, with a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio of staff support.  Individuals with greater needs work with a therapist on a 1:1 basis.  Adaptive tools are used as needed to enhance success. Multiple opportunities are given for hands-on activities that are directly related to the cut flower business including mixing soil, filling pots, sowing and germinating seeds, watering, fertilizing and growing plant material that will later be transplanted into the fields.

During the off season, Christmas trees and greens are sold to the general public, as well as wreaths, garland and table decorations that are made by the participants. Workshops are also taught throughout the year and geared to all people of all ages, teaching various aspects of the field of horticultural and floricultural practices. Classes are taught weekly and are fee based.