Everything we do in the Garden is therapy
The vast majority or the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens
volunteers are either seniors, youth-at-risk or people with
disabilities. They provide over 90 percent of the physical labor for the
project.
Horticultural
therapy is using gardening as a mode of therapy. Whether it is watering,
harvesting, planting or arranging a bouquet it can have a wonderfully
therapeutic effect.
Unlike many other
public gardens where the therapy is a defined project in a defined area, the
CBG finds therapeutic activities in everything that occurs. Because the
Cheyenne Botanic Gardens has such a small staff it is very dependent upon
its volunteers. The volunteers find themselves in therapeutic activities and
the garden gets planted and
maintained.
We view our Horticultural Therapy program as another
aspect of our 30 year commitment to sustainability. The
another definition of sustainability is: “to strengthen spirits or
courage of; comfort, buoy up; encourage,” this is provided for in the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens volunteer program that
includes participating senior, youth and handicapped individuals.
As
volunteer Adele Beedie explained in January on a warm, beautiful day in
the conservatory, "Being here refreshes my soul. You can actually see
the spirits of our volunteers rise once they start working with plants and
enjoying the camaraderie of other volunteers.” Volunteers also receive
the benefits of horticultural therapy and
 the self-esteem building
knowledge that they are adding to the quality of life in their community.
Horticultural Therapy adjusts to every
age, ability or condition. It can focus on many needs. Whether there are
developmental, fine motor coordination or problems arising from behavioral
problems. At the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens you will see teens working off
court imposed fines working with seniors along with those from the local
sheltered workshop all gardening together. The work they do is never
"make-work chores" but rather needed labor to help enhance the Cheyenne Bota nic
Gardens in every way.
Volunteers
are also make friends across generations and differing backgrounds. As CBG
volunteer, Pauline McCabe (97 years young), often said, "The people
are so friendly here." The volunteers create a sense of family among
each other that is inclusive and can be felt in the ambience of the
operation. One of the younger volunteers, 17-year-old Katie Schroeder
comments, "Plants are like music, they just make you feel good."
It is certainly easy to see the spirits strengthening as everyone watches
the flourishing of the seeds they have sown.
 You
will see people brimming with pride in their work in the gardens and
with plants as they
reaping the benefits of a harvest, transplanting
or making a bed look beautiful.
The many youth that
have been involved in the Gardens over the past 30 plus years often come
back to the staff as adults talking about what how valuable it was to
experience work at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens.
 Many
of the therapeutic experiences with residents or our local rehabilitation
hospital are involved with our
Sensory Garden (pictured left).
Summer internships are available for
students studying Horticultural Therapy.
Please contact
Claus Johnson.
|
