This HT Week Mini-Conference will explore and celebrate how therapeutic horticulture (TH) and horticultural therapy (HT) have transformed lives across time and borders. With a spotlight on the field’s rich history, impactful present, and innovative future, this event is your opportunity to gain insight into the global growth of TH and HT from leaders in the field.

Highlights:

• Fireside Chat with Dr. Diane Relf: A reflection on the early pioneers of horticultural therapy and their lasting impact on the field.
• Thought-provoking presentations by guest speakers Mattie Cryer and Emilee Weaver, leaders in therapeutic horticulture innovation.
• Exclusive unveiling of Root in Nature’s new free and open-access Sortable Research Database, a powerful tool featuring hundreds of curated articles tagged by program type, population groups, settings, outcomes, and more.

Why Attend? Gain inspiration, practical tools, and valuable connections to elevate your practice. Celebrate the power of nature-based healing while building connections with a global community of peers.

Let’s honor the past, embrace the present, and shape the future of HT and TH—together!

Presentations:

Cultivating Recovery: 42 Years of Horticultural Therapy at Craig Hospital

Craig Hospital’s horticultural therapy program has evolved over 42 years into a multifaceted initiative that blends vocational training, wellness, and therapeutic interventions with a strong emphasis on community engagement and adaptive accessibility. This session will explore the unique elements that make Craig’s program a leader in the field, including its innovative use of adaptive tools, thoughtfully designed therapeutic gardens, and strategic community partnerships. Attendees will gain insight into how these components work together to create meaningful, evidence-based therapeutic experiences that support patients in rehabilitation. Additionally, the session will highlight original research and leadership efforts that continue to shape the future of horticultural therapy.

Speaker: Mattie Cryer, LCSW, CBIS

Conflict to Cultivation: Emilee’s Journey Advancing Therapeutic Horticulture in War-Torn Regions

Since 2022, Emilee Weaver, and her colleagues at the non-profit Partnerships for Nature have supported Ukraine’s efforts to develop the use of plant- and nature-based programming as healing interventions for those affected by the ongoing war with Russia. Through free virtual ‘train the trainers’ therapeutic horticulture (TH) trainings, scholarships for online TH certificates (in partnership with NC State Extension Gardener program), and consultations with botanical gardens in Ukraine and Armenia, Emilee has fostered transformative collaborations.

In October 2024, she embarked on a 14-day trip to Armenia and the Poland/Ukraine border to meet, celebrate, and continue supporting the future leaders of TH in these countries. Join us for a virtual tour of this journey, showcasing the first sensory healing garden in Poland, two therapeutic gardens in Armenia, and how Ukraine’s botanical gardens have remained a source of resilience, cultural pride, and hope amid profound adversity.

Speaker: Emilee Weaver

New Sortable Research Database Reveal

Root in Nature is proud to introduce an innovative and fully sortable research database, featuring hundreds of research articles categorized and tagged for ease of use. Designed to empower practitioners with the latest evidence-based insights, this database is a comprehensive tool for exploring the therapeutic, social, and vocational impacts of horticultural therapy. Articles are sorted by Program Type (e.g., therapeutic, social, vocational) and tagged by Population Groups (e.g., older adults, individuals with mental health challenges, veterans), Settings (e.g., community gardens, hospitals, schools), and Health and Wellness Benefits (e.g., stress reduction, cognitive improvement, social engagement).

Users can also explore intersections with Allied Health Fields like occupational therapy, social work, as well as outcomes such as improved mobility, greater sense of purpose, and faster recovery times. Whether you’re seeking peer-reviewed studies, case reports, or practical evaluation metrics, this database is a treasure trove of resources tailored to elevate your therapeutic horticulture practice.

Don’t miss the exclusive walkthrough of this game-changing tool, designed to inspire and equip practitioners worldwide.

Fireside Chat with Dr. Diane Relf: Reflections on the Early HT Pioneers

Join Dr. Diane Relf for an intimate and engaging conversation as she shares personal reflections on the early pioneers of horticultural therapy. With a lifetime of experience in the field, she co-founded AHTA (then NCTRH) and founded the International People Plant Council.

Dr. Relf will recount stories and insights about key individuals who influenced her thinking and writing, including Rhea McCandliss, Alice Burlingame, Earl Copus, and Esuike Matsuo. She will also reflect on leaders from allied fields who shaped perspectives on the healing qualities of plants and landscapes, such as Charlie Lewis, Rachel Kaplan, and Roger Ulrich. This session offers a rare glimpse into the roots of therapeutic horticulture from someone who was personally influenced by its pioneers.

This is a unique opportunity to connect with the past, gain wisdom from a trailblazer, and celebrate the legacy of those who shaped the field.

Speaker: Dr. Paula Diane Relf

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and celebrate the global potential of TH & HT. Reserve your spot today!