National Horticultural Therapy Week (NHTW), has been a “ritual” of AHTA to promote and celebrate horticultural therapy third week of March since 2006. This March 2016 marked 10 years of recognizing HT in this way. Lana Dreyfus in 2004 planted a seed. At the time Lana was an AHTA board member and President of the Chesapeake Chapter who campaigned for NHTW. Through communications sent out by the AHTA, every member of AHTA was encouraged to take a moment and contact their elected representative and senators to ask for their support of this resolution. Congressman David Price, 4th District of North Carolina, agreed to sponsor a Congressional Resolution Number 92 submitted to Congress March 2005 supporting the recognition of NHTW during 2006. (more…)

The enabling garden built at RVCC. (Photo: ~Courtesy of Laura DePrado)

Last October, RVCC, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Branchburg, broke ground on an enabling garden, or accessible, barrier-free garden at the college’s Branchburg Campus.

BRANCHBURG – If you have visited Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) this month, you may have noticed a garden build is underway next to the college’s Conference Center.

Last October, RVCC, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Branchburg, broke ground on an enabling garden, or accessible, barrier-free garden at the college’s Branchburg Campus. The garden is being created in part as an Eagle Scout project by Patrick O’Rourke of Pittstown. (more…)

The Franklin Woman’s Club uses its grant from the Home News Tribune to enhance the gardens at Ronald McDonald House in New Brunswick. iPad Video, Make a Difference Day 2014 Pam MacKeinzie

READINGTON – Fifteen seventh-graders with various learning challenges from the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School visited Hionis Greenhouses and Garden Center in Whitehouse on April 8.

The goal was to create a pre-vocational experience for the students to learn about the six-plus acres of commercial greenhouse production, its functions and products, including Jersey Grown, and to learn how to incorporate those plant products into their school greenhouse for plant sales at school.

Students and teachers explored and engaged in “fields” while learning about many of the aspects of plants, science and the horticulture industry in the United States and New Jersey’s position within the top 10 of that industry. (more…)

Pictured (from left) Adult Day Center of Somerset County member Nina Guerriero, Sen. Kip Bateman (R-16th), Adult Day Center of Somerset County staff member Debbie Cocino, Adult Day Center of Somerset County member Pauline Meske; Registered Horticultural Therapist Laura DePrado, Adult Day Center of Somerset County Board Chairman Dave Tucker, Somerset County Freeholder Pat Walsh, Adult Day Center of Somerset County member Tom Blue, Vice President of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscaping Association Jack Otterbein, Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine and Adult Day Center of Somerset County member Bobby Rembilas. (courtesy photo)

BRIDGEWATER – The Adult Day Center of Somerset County recently celebrated Horticultural Therapy Week.

Members, staff and guests – including Sen. Kip Bateman (R-16th),  Somerset County Freeholders Brian Levine and Patricia Walsh, and Jack Otterbein, vice president of New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association – took part in activities presented by Laura DePrado of Final Touch Plantscaping.

New Jersey is the first in the nation to formally designate the third week of March, coinciding, with the beginning of spring as Horticultural Therapy Week, according to a news release. The Adult Day Center is a non-profit agency providing day care services for disabled and elderly residents of Somerset County. (more…)

Assistant Agriculture Secretary Alfred Murray, Stat Sen. Christopher “Kip” Batemen, R-16; and Laura Deprado of Final Touch Plantscaping visit the Chesea at Warren.

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The NJ Senate held Ceremonial for SJR12, designation third week of March as ​”​Horticultural Therapy Week​,” first in the nation. ​​Photo (Courtesy of NJ Senate) Left to right: Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, Senator Michael Doherty, MaryAnne McMillan, HTR, Immediate Past President American Horticultural Therapy Association, Senator Anthony Bucco, Senator Tom Kean, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Senator Kip Bateman​, Rotary Club of Branchburg, ​Laura DePrado, HTR, Final Touch Plantscaping, LLC., Rotary Club of Branchburg; Michael DePrado, Evelyn and Vincent Lipiniski,​ super seniors,​Dominick Mondi, Executive Director, New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, Senator Nick Scutari, Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, Senator Bob Smith, Frank Whittlesey.

Horticultural Therapy Week is Sunday, March 20th to 26th.

Just in time for Spring, the Garden State, designates third week of March as “Horticultural Therapy Week”, inaugurated in Ceremonial Senate Resolution on Monday March 14th.

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(Photo: ~Courtesy of Somerset County Office of Public Information)

Gov. Chris Christie and New Jersey Legislature have declared March 20-26 and every year thereafter as ‘Horticultural Therapy Week’ to coincide with the beginning of spring.

New Jersey is the first in the nation to formally designate this week, initially established by Congress in 2006, to celebrate the benefits of connecting people and plants in vocational, social and therapeutic programs in a peaceful non-threatening environment using horticulture modality to improve the quality of life. (more…)

Hunterdon Freeholder Director Suzanne Lagay (right) presents to Laura DePrado a proclamation on Feb. 16 recognizing the third full week of March as Horticultural Therapy Week in Hunterdon (Sallie Graziano | For NJ.com)

New Jersey is the first state in the nation to name March 20-26 Horticultural Therapy Week, coinciding with the start of spring.

The designation is meant to showcase the benefits of connecting people and plants in vocational, social and therapeutic programs to improve the quality of life. Gov. Christie signed the legislation on May 11, 2015.

Laura DePrado, a registered horticultural therapist who owns Final Touch Plantscaping in Somerset County, spearheaded the New Jersey legislation. She shared some facts about horticultural therapy. (more…)

Honored to receive Proclamation from the Somerset County Freeholders for “Horticultural Therapy Week” March 20-26 from Director Patricia Walsh with Senator “Kip” Bateman. Senate Ceremonial will take place Monday, March 14th, inaugurating third week of March beginning this year, and every year thereafter as “Horticultural Therapy Week” in the Garden State to connect people and plants.

March 9th- Governor Chris Christie and New Jersey Legislature have declared this third week of March, 20-26, “Horticultural Therapy Week”, to coincide with the beginning of spring. New Jersey is the first in the nation to formally designate this week, initially established by Congress in 2006, to celebrate the endless benefits of connecting people and plants in vocational, social and therapeutic programs in a peaceful non-threatening environment using horticulture modality to improve the quality of life. During 2014-2015 legislative session, SJR12 (Bateman-Vitale), AJR13 (Simon-Vanieri-Huttle) passed its way in and out of senior, health and human services committees, Full Senate and Full Assembly and was signed by Governor Christie on May 11, 2015. (more…)