Mood and Anxiety Program plant sale a “budding” success

The first Mood and Anxiety Program plant sale on Friday, June 26, 2009, in the Queen Street Mall was a “budding” success. A wide variety of houseplants were sold, along with two varieties of tomato plants, strawberries, and a selection of potted herbs such as basil, dill and sage.

All plants were patiently nurtured by our clients and volunteers in our sun-drenched solarium on unit 4, 5^th floor, and in our outdoor garden plot. We would like to extend appreciation to Mary Lewis, a member of the Parkdale Horticultural Society, who regularly helps take care of the plants.

Recovery is described as “a deeply personal unique process of changing one’s attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills and/ or roles. It is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life even with limitations caused by illness.”
William Anthony, 1993

Active engagement in meaningful activities enhances recovery in many ways. A client with depression had previously complained of poor concentration, but was surprised to find that he was able to prepare the seeding trays for an unbroken one and a half hour stretch. Such activity augments self worth and meaningful roles as reported by another client with depression when, with a smile, he agreed to be a weekly volunteer in the solarium; engaging in taking care of the plants was not a chore, it was therapeutic.

Passively enjoying the plants can also bring happiness and peace. A client with mania commented that the solarium was very calming for her. The aroma and the vibrant colour of the plants were soothing.

Hope is one of the key concepts in recovery. Just as during the process of growth and transformation the plants undergo a continuous cycle of recharging and regeneration, simply watching them grow bigger and stronger parallels a client’s personal recovery journey.

“Gardening is fundamentally an act of enormous hope because everything you do in the garden is for the future.”
Barbara Frum,(1937-1992), Canadian Broadcast Journalist

Congratulations to the hard working clients, volunteers and staff who took part in our sale. We greatly appreciate all the support we have received from the clients, customers, occupational therapy students, staff and volunteers who helped out throughout the process. With the funds raised, we were able to purchase horticultural supplies and a video game.

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