Wild Meadow Garden Therapy
Discover well-being through nature connection
Hello!
I'm Jess, an artist, gardener and Horticultural Therapist based in Melbourne, Australia.
My passion is helping people connect with the natural world to improve mental and physical wellbeing. I offer personalised garden therapy services that range from workshops to designing gardens and facilitating hands-on gardening activities.
Let me show you the many ways Garden Therapy can support your journey towards a healthier, happier life.
NDIS participants are welcomed.
Wildflower Meadows
Transform your garden and your mental health by growing a wildflower meadow. Whether tiny or lawn-sized, I can help you create a flourishing, low maintenance haven that offers amazing well-being benefits:
Inspire Hope and Positivity: Experience the joy of witnessing your garden change and thrive, filling you with optimism and peace. Learn garden-based mindfulness techniques along the way.
Support Bees and Butterflies: Attract and nurture these vital pollinators, contributing to biodiversity.
Fresh Cut Flowers: Enjoy a steady supply of vibrant blooms to brighten your indoor spaces.
Improve Gardening Skills: Learn valuable techniques and practices while tending to your wildflower meadow.
Uplifting Outdoor Activity: Engage in moments of relaxation amidst the beauty of your blossoming meadow. Strengthen your physical health through gardening and sunshine.
Wildflower meadows are so powerful - they are transformative, uplifting, triumphant and joyous.
Medicinal Herb Gardens
Would you like to support your health by cultivating medicinal herbs? If so, I'd love to guide you on this journey.
I specialise in creating medicinal herb gardens and love to share my years of personal experience in creating safe and natural home remedies and hand made body products.
I can help you with every step of the process, from planning your garden and sourcing the right plants to nurturing and maintaining your herbs.
Discover the joy of creating your own herbal remedies, such as herb-infused oils, herbal honeys, herbal vinegars, and herbal salves. Replace chemical-laden bathroom and cleaning products with your own natural, handmade alternatives.
Learn about the optimal timing for harvesting your herbs and the best methods for storing them, ensuring you have a readily available supply whenever you need them.
Learning how to grow and prepare your own herbal medicine at home is incredibly nourishing and empowering.
School Garden Programs
My two signature programs have been developed for schools who want to provide Garden Therapy for at-risk students. These programs have been running successfully in schools across Melbourne, Australia since 2020.
Therapeutic gardening offers students more than simple garden skills. These programs help children develop a stronger connection with the natural world through observation, sensory exploration, care and respect for plants and mindfulness activities.
Limited availability
Caretakers
A 6-week program introducing students to indigenous plant species, their Wurundjeri names and their traditional and modern uses. The program fosters school engagement through connection to the school grounds.
Transition Garden
A 12-week program exploring change as a positive force in the garden. Designed to support Primary School students who are transitioning to High School the following year.
Custom Program
I would love to develop a unique program to suit your site and the needs of your students.
School
Consultations
Are you curious about implementing Garden Therapy in your classrooms but...
- you are not sure where to start and/or
- you don't have the funding to employ a therapist?
I hear this often and can help with a low-cost, 1.5 hour staff training session.
This informative session will empower your existing staff members with the knowledge and confidence they need to introduce Garden Therapy activities and strategies within your setting.
What's covered:
~ A foundational introduction to Garden Therapy.
~ Easy to implement strategies for existing staff.
~ Activities-based Garden Therapy training.
~ Free ebook of Garden Therapy activities.
Prices start at $149
Microgreens Workshops
Learn how to grow and sell microgreens in this 1-hour workshop.
- Microgreens are young plants that are packed with flavour and nutrition.
- They are used in restaurants and cafes to garnish food, or grown to enjoy at home.
- They are grown indoors so anyone can produce them.
What's Covered:
- Learn how grow microgreens from seed to produce abundant crops for eating or selling.
- Learn about what equipment, materials and permits are needed to create your own microgreens enterprise.
- Microgreens growing kit.
This informative workshop is perfect for schools or community enterprise groups.
Cost: $199
Herbal Body Care Workshops
Learn how to create your own nourishing body care products using herbs in this 2-hour workshop.
- Create potent whole-plant infused herbal oils and salves.
- Learn how to make a herbal salt scrub.
- Make a facial mask using green tea, rose and kaolin clay.
- Take home your beautiful handmade products.
This fun workshop is perfect for Team Building, Community Social Groups or Hen events.
Cost: $249
Team Building Workshops
Kokedama Workshop - 2 hours.
Incorporate Garden Therapy into your next Team Building Workshop!
- Fun and relaxing Japanese technique for creating a hanging plant.
- Encourages your team members to get their hands dirty.
- Challenging and creative.
- Go home with a beautiful hanging plant.
Cost: $85 per participant
Picture Books
We all know that being able to get out into the garden is very beneficial to health and well-being. But did you know that simply looking at images of nature can provide some really remarkable health benefits?
During a study by Robert Ulrich in 1993 at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden large window-style images of nature were placed in the rooms of patients who had recently had heart surgery. The study found that these patients recovered faster, were calmer and required less pain medication than those who had other types of images, or no images at all.
I created my series of Garden Therapy picture books for clients who are unable to physically participate in a session, or get out into the garden. These books are very calming and they offer clients a peaceful garden-related activity that can be enjoyed indoors or out.
These books are also a great activity for patients with Dementia.
