A Healing Journey with Plants – Horticultural Therapy

Daniel has always been passionate about nature but in 2009 the focus of his life turned to healing from several serious injuries. A lower back injury that occurred from heavy lifting at the Icehotel in 2007 took nearly one year to regain most strength. The following year the same back injury happened again. Meanwhile, he focused on his teaching career but with a hevy workload, aggrivated by long hours sitting at the computer, one morning he woke to find his right arm 80% paralised. This was diagnosed as Winged Scappula, caused by unexplained nerve damage in the shoulder and it was uncertain if he would be able to lift his right arm ever again.

While injured and searching for answers, Daniel began research into ‘Healing Trauma’ and Post Traumatic Stress dissorders, he found that with losing career hope along with living in constant pain, his mental health took a downward turn into depression and anxiety with many things seeming to agrivated his fragile head space, including social situations, computer work, city traffic, rushing, loud noise & pollution. He became hyper sensitive to his surroundings and found it more and more dificult to be present during conversations. He felt a deep need to retreat.
The garden became his sanctuary. A space to heal.

Gardeing with Restrictions

Since then, Daniel has returned to good health and has dedicated a grea deal of time into healing garden research. Connecting with nature is an essential part of maintaining good human health. Unfortunately, modern city lifestyles can lead to long hours spent indoors, on computers or in transit, so many city dwellers suffer from limited nature connection. Living in rental and high-rise properties has also diminished our sense of connection to the land that we share. The ‘greening cities movement’ has made good progress by pushing for more green public space, yet the joys and health benefits of creating and maintaining gardens, for many city dwellers is not a possible option.

Gardenig in Pots also know as Container Gardenig is a great way to bring life to inner city living areas while maintaining ownership and connection.