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Flower power U But is there any real remedying benefit to having a green thumb? Apparently there is. “Emotionally, you've had a stress day at work, what do you do when you go home? You water or mist the plants or prune some plants if you’re feeling really aggressive,” said Sean Chubbuck. a horticultural therapist and the owner] operator ofWhitchurchâ€"Stoufiville based Afya HortTherapy. “You just go into a room where there's lots of plants and you just feel Horticultural therapy, which is the pur- poseful use of plants and plant-related activi- ties to promote health and wellness, can be used in a variety of treatments including a rehabilitation program to regain hand move- ment and strength as well as for emotional well-being. According to Mitchell Hewson, the first registered horticultural therapist to practise in Canada. gardening is a form of exercise, therefore, it raises one’s endorphin levels, which then enables the person to think more clearly. For the past few months, Bloomington Cove residents have been participating in horticultural therapy, with great results. “ (Recently) a dementia or Alzheimer's patient said: ‘well, you learn something new everyday.’ I think she actually learned some- thing completely new. We've got new neurons triggering there, so new memories forming,” Mr. Chubbuck said. CS. “It's something where they are able to engage and they are actually remembering.” said Robyn Stewart, director of resident and family services at Bloomington Cove, which is a long-term care facility for people with dementia. “Which is hard when you have short-term memory loss." Horticultural therapy can also help socially by promoting co-operation with other peo- ple. "In a session, you can actually see a change from I don’t want to do this, to I’m doing this and I’m enjoying myself," Mr. Chubbuck said. “They feel good about what they’ve accom- plished. “('I‘hey) can actually say: ‘1 accomplished something today instead of just sitting around watching television." Gardening grows as therapeutic aid He isn't the only one noticing the chang- sbolan@yrmg.com ardeners often say pulling weeds, pruning and misting plants is therapeutic. BY SANDRA BOLAN Unlike other therapies, the effects do not end upon the conclusion of the day’s session. One Bloomingmn Cove resident enjoying the program is lean Cable. “I’d rather be outdoors with the plants than indoors," she said. “I suppose I'm a gar- dener.” “They’re always watching the plants grow. Art therapy and music therapy, they’re wonâ€" derful things, but once you turn the music off, it’s off for that day. Whereas a plant, you can watch it continually changing," Mr. Chub- buck said. “You go from the seed, you plant it, you look after the seedling, you have to put it outside, you’re actually pruning it, you har- vest the tomato (for example) and then you eat the tomato.” Horticultural therapy is also allâ€"inclusive, thanks to ergonomically-designed tools for people with arthritis and creativity when it comes to planting. “Have a raised bed, then you can wheel the wheelchair right up there and sit and work,” Mr. Chubbuck said. Not all horticultural therapy has to take place in large outdoor gardens. People can make hanging baskets. as did Bloomington Cove residents earlier this year, instead of buying them. During the winter or when there is no out- door garden space, seedlings can be planted in pots and kept in people’s rooms to care for. If natural light is minimal, a grow light can be installed and soil is even optional, as hydroponics can be grown in an aquarium and people still receive the same benefits as if it was a traditional garden. Mr. Chubbuck graduated from the Uni- versity of Guelph in 2001 with an agricultural degree. although he primarily took horticul- tural course‘s. “THey can show their families they can do it," MS Stewart said. Over the past 10 years. the Stouffville Dis- trict Secondary School graduate has worked in a variety of greenhouses. including Richters ‘In a session, you can actually see a change from I don’t want to do this, to I’m doing this and I’m enjoying myself. They leel good about what they’ve accomplished! Sean Chubbuck Stouffville horticultural therapist Sean Chubbuck, in the garden with wife Conny, provides horticultural therapy to seniors. Herbs in Goodwood, Black Creek Pioneer V1]- lage and in Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park. “I gave tours and it was a lot of fun, it was neally great. I really enjoyed working with the plants but I also really enjoyed showing people around," he said. In 2005. Mr. ChubbUck applied for a rec- reation assistant’s position at Markham’s Woodhaven long-Term Care Residence that required the person have knowledge in either music or horticulture. Mr. Chubbuck did not get the job, but he was hired panâ€"time to provide horticultural therapy to its residents. ~ “I went bapk to Canada, she went back to Germany, but we kept in touch and (I) decid- ed one day to go and pursue her," he said. The couple married in 2007 and stayed in Germany while Conny completed her degrees in biology and English as well as receive her teacher's degree. About a yeaiflater, Mr. Chubbuck decided to leave W0 1 n to reunite with a woman he met while in tland a few years earlier. The couple returned to Canada in early 2009 and started Afya HortThempy. For more information, go to www.3fyahorttherapy.oom STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT