Horticultural Therapy & WNF&GA
A Brief History
The recognition of horticultural therapy as an accepted treatment and
profession is relatively new.
The first Master of Science degree in the
subject was awarded in 1955 by Michigan State University, and in...
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Horticultural Therapy & WNF&GA
A Brief History
The recognition of horticultural therapy as an accepted treatment and
profession is relatively new.
The first Master of Science degree in the
subject was awarded in 1955 by Michigan State University, and in 1971
Kansas State University developed a curriculum combining horticulture
and psychology.
Although the medicinal uses of plants reaches back
centuries, it was not until the 1800s that some noted the benefit of
agricultural work for mental patients.
Recognition of gardening as an
activity for physical and mental rehabilitation occurred in the early
1900s.
In September 1925, an article on horticultural therapy appeared in the
Woman’s National Farm & Garden Association magazine, reporting on
the work of Miss Elizabeth Hall in what was termed “one of the newer finds – the adaptation of
horticulture to modern therapeutics.
”
The article continued:
“For some reason that scientists have never been able to account for women are, as the wor
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