KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION

PLANTING SEEDS
OF COMMUNITY INCLUSION

A participatory action community gardening study and horticultural therapy
group intervention for seniors at Mount Royal University.
Sonya Jakubec, PhD

Contributors: Joanna Szabo-Hart; Sonya Flessati; Judy Gleeson;

Mount Royal University

Janet Melrose, Calgary’s Cottage Gardener.

Associate Professor, School of Nursing

Genevieve Currie; Elaine Schow; Bev Mathison; Alana-Dawn Eirikson;

Community gardens have been found to contribute to a number
of health, social and ecological benefits. Revitalizing the MRU
community garden, which has been underutilized in the summer
session at the university, to include neighboring seniors and
community volunteers was seen by a group of interdisciplinary
researchers as one way to revitalize individual and community health.
Guided by eco-health and permaculture principles, a participatory
action research project was undertaken to explore an inclusive group
horticultural therapy program for neighboring seniors groups and
community volunteers. Specifically, experiences of inclusion in the
garden as well as barriers and benefits to participation were studied
during the 2015 project.

Methodology
THE STUDY INCLUDED:
• 8 community health nursing students (+1 instructor)
• 7 researchers from 3 disciplines (nursing, psychology and child studies)
• 5 research participants (from 3 seniors residential facilities)
• 5 community volunteers (2 professional care giver, 1 senior, 1 adolescent, 1 child)
• 4 mixed ability community gardeners from the neighborhood
• 2 research collaborators/facilitators (our horticultural therapist and MRU sustainability liaison)
• 1 research assistant

Findings
EXPERIENCES THAT STOOD OUT IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT:
• Importance of a structured program - but one with no day-to-day “agenda”
• Value of routines - but accommodating
• Strength in allowing participants of all ages and abilitiest to bring their assets
and strengths – compassion and embracing of differences
• Allowing people to have choices and a say in all aspects of the project and
program

BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS:
• All domains of well-being (cognitive, physical, emotional, spiritual/creative, and especially social) saw benefits from the inclusive community
gardening program
• Inclusion provided an outlet for participants’ interest in gardening, particularly through structured and free time gardening activities, sharing food
and to-go garden and garden products, such as preserves, produce or windowsill herb.
• Participation provided a place to be visible, recognized, to contribute and be useful.
• The process and garden place reduced tension about the expectations of participating in social activities.
ORGANIZATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BENEFITS:
• Shifting values/ approaches
• Creating accessible community spaces
• Reorienting from individual to community

Implications

Where From Here?

We have discovered that a structured, but highly responsive and
flexible, horticultural therapy program was a place of germination
for inclusion and sustainable community development. There were
benefits to well-being in several domains (cognitive, physical,
emotional, spiritual/creative and especially social) for all involved in
extending our campus community out to the surrounding communities
through inclusive gardening. In particular, the intergenerational and
mixed abilities aspects of the pilot project stood out as valuable to all.

The pilot project has planted the seeds for sustainability and
future growth. It has extended campus-community relationships,
particularly with seniors’ groups, but also with children, youth, and
disability community members who see a place for themselves as
part of the campus community. One of the community partners has
extended the relationship, inviting the participants and researchers
to the seniors’ care facility to continue the celebration of the project.
The project has re-imagined personal and institutional possibilities.
Future extension projects are proposed to further develop the project
work and inclusive horticultural therapy program with two new
populations: intergenerational (including seniors and MRU’s daycare)
as well as a mixed abilities group of gardeners.

FUNDER RECOGNITION
• MRU’s Institute for Environmental Sustainability
• MRU’s Faculty of Health, Community & Education Innovation Fund