Professionals working in the field of therapeutic horticulture may identify themselves as full-time, dedicated TH practitioners, or they may be in allied professions such as healthcare, teaching, advocacy, or other wellness areas where they draw on TH principles and practices to inform and enhance the work they do with their populations. Either way, it's important to have current, evidence-based resources to ensure that we are always using the best practices with the populations we serve. Please use the following links to explore professional resources, as well as all of the subject links on the left menu.
References:
Curriculum:
Professional Organizations:
- Resources for Extension Agents: specifically-prepared one-page resource for Extension agents for use with their county programs, volunteers, and community partners.
- Activities: a list of activities for different TH populations, and information about the THAD database, with 275+ evidence-based activities searchable by population, goal, and type of activity.
- Professional Registration with AHTA - the American Horticultural Therapy Association
- Education Programs Accredited by the American Horticultural Therapy Association
- Evaluation Tools
- Professional Credentialing: What's in a Name?
References:
- Horticulture As Therapy. Simson, Sharon & Martha Straus, Eds. (1998) Food Products Press
- Horticultural Therapy Methods. Haller, Rebecca and Christine Kramer, Eds., Second Edition (2025) Haworth Press
Curriculum:
- The Horticulture Society Of New York - Growing in the Garden: A Curriculum for Practicing Horticulture with Incarcerated Individuals
- Therapeutic Horticulture Workbook from Antioch University with basic information for starting a new program
Professional Organizations:
- American Horticultural Therapy Association: professional organization supporting continuing education and professional development. Offers professional registration for horticultural therapists and therapeutic horticulture practitioners with approved education, internships, and work experience.
- Carolinas Horticultural Therapy Network: regional professional organization connecting practitioners, volunteers, students, and others interested in the people-plant connection. Free online webinars for continuing education, annual member workshops, and professional networking opportunities for career growth to promote HT/TH in the Carolinas region and beyond.
