Through the Master Gardener Healing Committee (formerly led by Judy Zipursky for 10 years! ) Vancouver Master Gardeners are involved in a wide range of healing gardens. These gardens are designed to actively involve people in them to promote an overall sense of well-being.
During the 2012- 2013 year, Master Gardeners volunteered for 1,392 hours in 12 healing garden projects. Master Gardeners’ focus was on providing information on ecologically- friendly gardening practices to enable establishment of new garden projects or expansion of exisiting gardens.
Our previous Projects
Bloedel Conservatory, Capilano Care Centre, Cedarview Lodge, Vancouver City Hall Community Garden, Czorny Alzheimer Centre, Disabled Independent Gardeners Association, Eagle Ridge Hospital, BC Women’s Hospital Fir Square and Heartwood Program, Lookout Emergency Aid Society Yukon Shelter, Moberly Cultural Herb Garden, North Vancouver Hospice, St. Luke’s Heritage Home Garden, Tupper Neighbourhood Greenway, Union Gospel Mission, Woodstone Residence
Regardless of age or culture, humans seem to find gardens intrinsically engrossing and soothing. Many studies have shown that people’s moods improve and stressfulness is reduced after spending time outside. May Sarton echoed these findings when she wrote, “Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets up back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of Grace.”
Roger Ulrich, who conducts research into how the environment promotes healing, proposes that healing gardens may be restorative because we became biologically disposed to respond positively to environments that were gainful to us through evolution- Humans who paid close attention to nature gathered information that helped them survive and reproduce, so this inclination to find nature absorbing would become hardwired into our genes.
Many studies show that images of nature produce a calming effect after a stressful event. Blood pressure, respiration rate, and stress hormones all decrease. Again, an evolutionary advantage is conferred to humans who can recover more quickly.
Healing gardens are often in health care facilities. Patients who can go out into gardens or have views of them have been found to sleep better, feel less pain, report less anxiety, and spend less time in hospital. It’s easy to see why green spaces foster well-being when you compare the planted terrace to the concrete terrace below.
Aside from promoting healing, gardens provide exercise, social interaction, a sense of achievement and control, and immersion in a joyous environment. How gardens can help promote health in individuals and communities can be seen in the following photographs of MGs’ Healing Gardens. Enquire about becoming a MG if you are interested in volunteering in these types of projects, or contact Judy Zipursky, the Healing Garden Committee Chair, if you are already a MG.
An abandoned patio garden was restored by MGs and residents in the Heartwood Program at BC Women’s Hospital. Garden beds were refreshed with good soil, and some new colorful plants and a herb garden were added to fill empty spaces. Residents have been active in the garden maintenance- they particularly loved the tomatoes - and have used it as peaceful place to relax.
Oh what a lot can be grown in containers! MGs worked with Yukon Shelter residents to fill an unused patio with pots of vegetables. MGs and residents planted and maintained this garden then moved on to work on a community garden plot. In the end, everyone was delighted with the high yield of both.
The goal for the Fir Square patio garden was to create a ”Working Garden” that evolves through the seasons and involves the residents in its care and maintenance. The garden is a patio garden off of a closed ward used by maternity patients with extra health care needs and the average stay on this ward can be several weeks.
This is a brand new garden installed July 2012. Plants were chosen to thrive in the hot, dry conditions and with little maintenance during the wet season- A live roof or green roof meets these requirements well.
MGs were involved in the initial concept planning and presentations to obtain funding, and are now acting in a supportive role to the staff and residents on the ward to help them to learn how to provide seasonal interest and to maintain the garden.
The live roof was grown and supplied by N.A.T.S. Nursery Ltd. The Live Roof is grown in modules (LiveRoof trays) measuring 12" by 24" long and 4" deep with the soil elevators. The soil elevators (strips of white plastic) are removed after the tray is locked into surrounding trays, for a seamless look. On the roof, the tray is laid upon the waterproof membrane and slip sheet. The borders are then completed with edging.
The planting materials are grown to 95% coverage before they are shipped, this ensures the plants have rooted in, so they are not faced with having to establish themselves on the roof. These modules were planted mid-April once the risk of frost has past. They were ready for installation in July. The plants were a combination of grasses, bulbs, sedums and a few perennials.
Plant species (shown clockwise from top left) include Sisyrinchium idahoense, Heuchera cylindrical, Penstemon serrulatus, Festuca idahoensis, Fragaria chiloensis, Allium spp.
The planter boxes were filled and everyone was exited to see their first Bumble bee that flew all the way up to the second floor patio!!
The residents and staff on the ward have truly embraced their new patio garden and have been regularly watering and tending the plants. They report caring for the garden helps to reduce their stress. The Healing has begun!!
One resident pressed flower petals from the garden and mounted them on a card with an imprint of her newborn baby’s feet as a precious keepsake.
Residents are learning the names of the different plants and have taken responsibility to make creative signage.
