This 2-day workshop is developed for Community Care organisations to introduce gardening-related activities to meaningfully engage their clients*.
For Day 1 of the Workshop, the outline is as follows:
This workshop will provide some insights into the basics of gardening. From choosing the right plants, watering regimes, the use of fertilizers, the workshop will introduce participants to the general requirements for plants to survive in our living environment. An alternative approach to gardening, using soil-less medium, known as Hydroculture will also be introduced in the workshop. Participants will also get a practical experience by doing planting using the plants and other materials made available during class.
For Day 2, the outline is as follows:
It encompasses a range of active, passive and gardening-associated activities to promote health, wellbeing, social interaction and the enjoyment of nature. The 2nd day workshop covers face to face training to learn the fundamentals of gardening and to conduct social and therapeutic horticulture activities for their clients.
Benefits of Gardening
1. Physical: Improves muscle strength, gross and fine motor skills, balance and endurance.
2. Cognitive: Provides opportunities to learn new skills, enhance sequencing, attention and memory.
3. Sensory: Offers stimulation through textures, tastes, smells, sounds and colours.
4. Emotional and Social: Builds better self-esteem and provides avenues to socialise and bond over a shared hobby.
*Activities are suitable for Category 3 RAF clients or similar
The content for the toolkit was developed in collaboration with AIC and students in Nanyang Polytechnic’s (NYP) School of Health Sciences’ Occupational Therapy programme in 2017.
Participants will receive an Activity Toolkit containing instructions on how plan and to carry out the activities, with related resources on how to set up a therapeutic garden.
Day 1:
Learn the fundamentals of gardening
Day 2:
Learn to plan and adapt social and therapeutic horticulture activities for different clients