mood food garden
AS WE NURTURE A GARDEN, WE LEARN HOW TO NURTURE OURSELVES.
A 1:1 or small group therapeutic gardening program for individual’s and community organisations on and around the Sunshine Coast who want to support their clients to connect with nature, have fun and improve the health and well-being of their mind, body and soul through the purposeful use of plant-related activities.
PLEASE NOTE: Our therapeutic gardening programs are designed to support general wellbeing and provide psychoeducation through gardening and nature-based activities. It is not a psychological treatment program and does not replace individual therapy.While our gardening programs may draw upon psychological principles and evidence-based frameworks, the sessions are not designed for clinical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Participants are welcome to share personal reflections related to wellbeing; however, these discussions will remain non-clinical and educational in nature.To maintain clear professional boundaries and comply with the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics, Kristy Howard is unable to offer individual psychology sessions to participants of our gardening programs.Similarly, due to ethical considerations regarding dual relationships, current or past individual psychology clients of In My Mother’s Kitchen Psychology are not eligible to participate in this program. This ensures that all participants can engage safely and openly within the group context. If psychological support is required, participants will be encouraged to seek individual therapy from another registered psychologist or through a GP referral.What is Mood Food Garden
Mood Food Garden is an innovative therapeutic gardening program that use plants, nutrition, psychology and garden-based activities to connect with self, nature and others whilst developing skills and supporting physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing. Our therapeutic gardening programs are a weaving of purposeful garden and nature-based activities, self-reflection, community connection, social and emotional skills building, meaningful movement and nature connection to support participants to cultivate a healthy, enriching and meaningful life.
It is a bespoke and hands-on program to support and enable participants to achieve their unique social and emotional goals whilst following the basic principles of horticulture to grow their own food, understand the role of food and other lifestyle factors in mood and promote overall health and wellbeing.
Typically, the program runs for a maximum of 12 weeks (over the span of a season) but can be tailored to the needs and wishes of the client or group.
The Mood Food Garden journey can include practical garden-based activities, information and guidance to learn skills to grow fresh food (growing our outer garden) whilst also learning skills to tend to our wellbeing (our inner garden). Sessions are tailored to the group to enhance confidence, health & wellbeing and is a great adjunct alongside other allied health services.
What is unique about this program is that as the gardening activities unfold, concepts of and experiences with nutrition (aka how food affects one’s mood), psychology, mindfulness, presence, deep listening, social and emotional skills building, connection with nature and fun are interwoven into the process.
benefits of therapeutic gardening
Therapeutic gardening may support you in the following ways:
Creation of an edible garden and access to fresh and free food
Promoting a feeling of connection to self, others, and to nature
Enhancing social connections through opportunities to practice socials skills and building community
The knowledge and skills to care for and add to their edible garden enhancing self confidence
An understanding of how nutrient-dense foods can support mood and health
Cognitive benefits such as supporting concentration, memory and problem-solving skills
A sense of purpose, the cultivation of joy & the development of a sense that actions matter
Psychological benefits such as stress management, development of mindfulness skills, improved mood, sensory stimulation and improved emotional health and wellbeing
Physical benefits such as increased strength and flexibility, fine motor skill development and improved hand-eye coordination
The Mood Food Garden journey
While every program is tailored to the individual’s or group members’ needs, at its essence, each journey teaches the practicalities of growing a garden, in a way that is accessible and enjoyable.
Session Outline:
Typically, over the span of a season, participants are taught:
Horticulture Skills & Activities
🌿Planting - How to collect and sow seeds, seed development, seasonal planting, crop rotation, planting seedlings, understanding soils, plant physiology and nutrients development in plants, companion planting, sensory gardens. 🌿Tending - weeding, pest management, assessing disease/health, watering, transplanting, pruning, journaling, nature art.🌿Harvesting - when to harvest, seed saving, growing from scraps, using homegrown ingredients in the kitchen, cooking with indigenous foods.Therapeutic Skills and Outcomes
🌿Planting - coming back to our senses (mindfulness/emotion regulation), goal setting, problem solving, how to cultivate and nourish our goals, nature connection and belonging to place, building a safe space in which to grow, healthy relationships.🌿Tending - self-care, developing self-awareness, emotion regulation, understanding our needs and nourishing our roots, communication and listening skills, mindful attention & deep nature connection (nature journaling/art), finding belonging to place, transitions and handling change.🌿Harvesting - nutrition for mood & pleasure, values guided actions, cultivating joy, linking with community, planning for tomorrow, reciprocity and mutual support, accepting change and disappointment, learning what is and isn't in our control, belonging to place, maintaining growth, & food sovereignty. FAQs
How much does it cost?
Because each Mood Food Garden journey is bespoke, I’m unable to provide costs until I have a clearer idea of the individual/group needs. For current NDIS participants, the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements line items are followed for the program and charged at the appropriate hourly rate plus provider travel to participant’s home.
For organisations, please contact me to discuss your needs for group programs.
Is this psychological therapy?
Our therapeutic gardening programs are designed to support general wellbeing and provide psychoeducation through gardening and nature-based activities. It is not a psychological treatment program and does not replace individual therapy.
While our gardening programs may draw upon psychological principles and evidence-based frameworks, the sessions are not designed for clinical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Participants are welcome to share personal reflections related to wellbeing; however, these discussions will remain non-clinical and educational in nature.
Can I see Kristy for psychological therapy AND garden program?
To maintain clear professional boundaries and comply with the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics, Kristy Howard is unable to offer individual psychology sessions to participants of our gardening programs.
Similarly, due to ethical considerations regarding dual relationships, current or past individual psychology clients of In My Mother’s Kitchen Psychology are not eligible to participate in this program. This ensures that all participants can engage safely and openly within the group context. If psychological support is required, participants will be encouraged to seek individual therapy from another registered psychologist or through a GP referral.
How long does each session run for?
Each Mood Food Garden journey is tailored to the individual/group, and the length of each session is dependent on their wishes, needs and capacities. Most often, however, sessions run for 90 minutes to 2 hours.
Are all the activities outdoors?
Activities can be tailored to either indoors or outdoors. Outdoor based activities are not suitable for everyone - an assessment of the appropriateness of outdoor activities is completed prior to engagement of these activities.
Are there extra costs involved for things like seeds, pots, soil, gardening tools, etc?
Gardening equipment is provided by In My Mother’s Kitchen for garden-based activities and each participant is provided with a welcome pack which includes some seeds, gloves & other items to start their gardening journey. Individuals or organisations are required to purchase larger perishable items, including potting mix, soil, seeds and plants as arranged for activities.
