Garden helps people grow

THE Noosa Community Care horticulture therapy program will hold an open day on 3 December and everyone is welcome to come along and learn more about the program.
The open day will also be a celebration of the program’s first birthday and a chance for people to enrol in the 2015 program.
Noosa Community Care co-ordinator Greg Tucker said the program catered for many different people.
“The horticultural therapy program is wheelchair friendly and benefits people recovering from stroke, heart disease, early stage dementia, physical and intellectual disabilities, as well as people with partial sight,” he said.
Noosa Community Care has been working with horticulturist Cath Manuel of Soil to Supper, as well as a band of volunteers who help run the program.
Participants in the program have enjoyed various activities throughout the year, including seed sowing and propagating, therapeutic planting and harvesting edible plants.
Ms Manuel said horticultural therapy is a process of using plant and garden related activities to promote well-being of people’s minds, body and spirit.
The program has physical, social, psychological and cognitive benefits. It can also help reduce anxiety and stress, improve emotional well-being, stimulate the senses, improve concentration and boost social interaction.
The celebration and open day will be on 3 December from 10.30am to 11.30am at Noosa Community Care, Wallace Drive, Noosaville.
All are welcome to come and learn more about horticultural therapy. A light morning tea will be provided and a variety of potted plants will be on sale.