The new Ometz Ecotherapy Initiative: Q&A with Olivia Barker

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"It has truly been magical to see the excitement and growth of both our garden and participants"

Did you know that connecting with nature can help lift depression, improve energy, and boost overall well-being and mental health? It’s what led to the creation of our new Ecotherapy Initiative at Ometz, which began this past summer. Run by members from our Ometz Mental Health Support team, clients participated in a community garden just a short walk from our office. They learned to harvest vegetables like lettuce, beans and cucumber, and had the opportunity to take some vegetables home for themselves and their families. We sat down with Olivia Barker, a Case Manager from our Mental Health Support Services who helped run the Ecotherapy Initiative.

Q: What is Ecotherapy?

Ecotherapy is an encompassing term that stems from Eco-psychology which looks to connect individuals to the natural world through horticulture, nature excursions, animal-assisted therapy and a number of other nature-based interventions while encouraging mutual healing and personal growth. This year the eco-therapy initiative has primarily been centered on horticulture and walks around the community garden, which is located on Victoria Avenue.

Q: When did you first learn about it?

I suppose I was interested in ecotherapy long before I heard it referred to as ecotherapy. My mother was an avid gardener growing up, and I can recall my father using fresh mint to make cold tea on hot summer days. These early experiences definitely instilled in me a love of anything nature-related from a young age. Hiking, swimming, gardening and exploring unfamiliar parts of the world are some of my personal “ecotherapy” activities I practice regularly. It was only after beginning my internship here at Ometz that I was introduced to the term ecotherapy and from there, my interest in horticultural therapy really grew (get it?).

Q: Can you tell us more about your clients?

We have around 20 participants who come once or several times a week. The participants involved are all individuals who receive support from the Mental Health department here at Ometz. The individuals in the program are a dynamic bunch; from young adults to older adults, participants come with a range of different backgrounds, and experience gardening. From complete beginner, to almost-professionals whose knowledge I draw on regularly. All participants have experienced some mental health difficulties in the past, and come to the program to reap the awards of physical, social, intellectual and emotional well-being.

Q: What is a ‘typical day’ in the ecotherapy program?

The eco-therapy program is presently run as a drop-in. This means that participants can come and take part in the gardening for a specified time for one hour a day from Mon-Friday. The drop-in is facilitated by either myself or one of the other three students in the Mental Health department, Kayla Baskin, Rebecca Pimienta & Jessica Workun-Hill. Participation ranges from one or two people, to four participants at a time. No two days in the eco-therapy program are alike. Early in the gardening season participants were instrumental in the preparation of our plot of land, and then later the planting, watering, weeding, and fertilizing of our plants. When participants arrive they are given a task according to their mental and physical abilities. Now that things are beginning to grow with more urgency, we have also had some harvesting days where participants learned to harvest vegetables like lettuce and cucumber, and even had the opportunity to take some vegetables home for themselves and their families. In addition to going home with vegetables, the Mental Health department has a number of cooking groups who have been fortunate to receive fresh produce to include in their menus. On slower days at the garden we have more passive interventions such as walking around the garden, observing the plants and flowers and trying to identify all the different varieties growing in the other plots.

Q: What has been the experience of your clients with their new community garden? What do you hope they gain from this program?

The response has been so amazing! The absolute best thing is seeing individuals who come from very different walks of life come together to learn and support one other while gardening. It’s thrilling to see participants engaging in a meaningful activity and passing their newly acquired knowledge onto others. This creates a warm and welcoming community experience at the garden which is one of the many benefits of participating. With more and more time spent indoors, it’s great to supply people with an avenue to engage with others. Additionally, there are a plethora of other science-backed benefits of gardening; learning a new skill, relaxation, physical activity, food security, stress reduction. All of which we hope will contribute to improved mental health and well-being while getting more in touch with nature.

 

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