Submission Date

7-20-2023

Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Department

Media & Communication Studies

Faculty Mentor

Louise Woodstock

Student Contributor

Connor Bernier

Project Description

This summer, I have researched the therapeutic benefits of gardening and horticulture, as well as being in nature and green spaces in general. This project has consisted of two major emphases: reviewing literature and engaging in therapeutic practices employing auto-ethnographic methods. I have been visiting gardens, going on hikes and outdoor walks, and engaging with nature as much as I can during these weeks on campus, as well as documenting my experiences with journaling and photography. My research affirms that time in nature is vital to our physical and mental well-being. From strengthening our immune systems through microbes in the soil to quieting our inner critic, being in green spaces is a crucial way to take care of ourselves. This project will inform the construction and implementation of therapeutic horticulture projects that I will help lead on campus this coming year. These on-campus projects are designed to pull us away from our sedentary, online lifestyles with constant stimulation that has removed us from our roots. Research shows that we need to return to what our minds and bodies need: earth.

Comments

Presented during the 25th Annual Summer Fellows Symposium, July 21, 2023 at Ursinus College.

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