Dear friend of Root in Nature,
As we approach the end of the year, I’m settling into my annual ritual of reflecting on the past year, and sharing those reflections with you!
To share openly with you, it’s an exciting time – I’ve been collaborating with a new partner and envisioning bold new ways to expand Root in Nature’s role in the therapeutic horticulture field. Stay tuned! My focus naturally gravitates to the future, and this year more than ever, it feels like an effort to shift to the rear-view mirror. Recognizing the value of reflecting on our past, let’s dive in…
In my 2023 letter, I shared:
“Now, as we are entering our third year, I feel that we have settled into that future direction: to serve as a support system, growth platform and training hub for professionals in this sector.”
This vision continues to guide us, and our team worked with dedication and creativity to bring it to life. This year has been one of expanding connections, delivering innovative resources, and inspiring meaningful change within our field. Here’s a snapshot of at what we’ve been up to:
💚 The GrowTH Network has blossomed to more than 215 members, representing practitioners and allied health professionals on every inhabited continent. Our dream of fostering a truly global network is coming to fruition! Our plan in 2025 is to continue expanding the resources available to members and to increase opportunities for connection.
🎤 We actively advocated for the field of horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture internationally. We strive to foster unity and collective growth within our field and complement and support other organizations working towards this shared vision. This included:
- Attending the International People Plant Symposium in Reading England with Katie McGillivray and Kristin Topping
- Sitting on the planning committee for World Therapeutic Horticulture Day
- Presenting at conferences, including the International Conference on Active Aging, the Therapeutic Recreation Institute, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, Recreation Today and Therapeutic Recreation Ontario
- Being a guest on podcasts, including the Nature of Wellness (NOW) and RealTalk Recreation Therapy
- Presenting to college and university students
- Offering monthly live TH information sessions
📚 We expanded our course offering, adding the following:
- Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture for Children & Youth is tailored for professionals working with children and youth. It’s designed to empower educators, therapists and other youth leaders with specific techniques and tools to enhance the well-being of children and youth through therapeutic horticulture.
- Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture builds upon the foundation laid in our introductory course and offers a comprehensive exploration of advanced techniques, specialized applications, and diverse approaches within the field of therapeutic horticulture. Graduates of this hybrid synchronous/ asynchronous course who meet all outlined criteria achieve certification as a Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Facilitator – CTHF™.
- Gardening for Wellness: A Virtual Therapeutic Horticulture Experience is a five-part series co-facilitated by Katie and Kristin. It combines gardening knowledge with personal well-being, and includes gardening techniques, games, mindful invitations and reflective prompts.
What’s next in our course development? We’ve been working on a course for the past several years called Emotional Resilience and Action in a Changing Climate for health professionals supporting clients through the emotional challenges of climate change. It offers tools to address emotions like eco-anxiety, grief, despair, and hope, while fostering resilience and encouraging action. This topic will become increasingly important in the coming years and its release has been slow due to the significance of the subject and the careful steps we’re taking in its development. We aim to have this course released by mid-year 2025.
The work we’ve accomplished this year wouldn’t have been possible without the extraordinary team that makes up Root in Nature. Katie McGillivray, our Courses & Community Lead, continues to inspire innovation and connection within our programs. Sarah Shapiro, our Horticultural Therapy Lead, continues to guide us with her unwavering wisdom and vision. Andrea Butt, who leads our in-person work in Ottawa, fosters meaningful therapeutic horticulture experiences with her dedication and presence. Aoife Rafferty, our Marketing Coordinator & Content Creator, brings our vision to life with engaging content, compelling visuals, and a creative flair. And our course developers and support team each excel in their roles, contributing significantly to our mission – Lani Balaoro, Param Singh, Sarah McKay, Kristin Topping, and Shahid Hussain.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, I’m filled with anticipation for the opportunities beginning to unfold. Your support and engagement—whether as a Root Beat subscriber, GrowTH Network member, or course student—mean the world to us and fuel our passion to dream bigger. Together, we’re improving health and well-being by connecting more people with plants and nature through therapeutic horticulture. With new courses, enhanced resources, and an exciting collaboration on the horizon, I can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in the year ahead.
Here’s to continuing our journey of growth, learning, and connection together!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Alexis Ashworth
Founder & CEO, Root in Nature