One of Trinity’s most innovative services is the Horticultural Therapy program serving adults with mental and developmental disabilities. The physical plant currently consists of two greenhouses, one of which is heated for year round use. An indoor program area has been designed with a nature theme to increase available space. Plants and horticulture related materials throughout the environment create a warm and comfortable setting. Extensive outdoor gardens surround the greenhouse.
Plants and plant related materials are used to educate, stimulate, exercise and build skills for persons with disabilities. Developing better social skills, improving motor coordination, enhancing self esteem, and acquiring job skills are just a few of the many benefits of horticultural therapy. Everything from Braille labeling for persons with blindness to adaptive gardening tools for persons with physical disabilities, is utilized to bring the horticultural experience to people who may never have had the opportunity take part in any aspect of gardening. Trinity’s program appeals to the senses using textures, movement, color and sound. Indeed, Horticulture provides meaningful, purposeful daily activity, year round.
Plants are started in late winter in the greenhouses to be ready for spring planting in flower, vegetable and herb gardens. Herbs and vegetables are grown from seed or plugs, and are picked daily during the growing season by people with disabilities.
The term Universal Garden was adapted from "enabling gardens" by The Horticultual Therapy Association. It denotes a garden in which every part can be accessed and used by people with all types or no disabilities. Enabling gardens are, additionally, accessible from all sides. Trinity’s Universal Garden consists of paved walkways that allow people in wheelchairs to easily access the picnic and garden areas. The organic vegetable garden has viewing windows to allow everyone a glimpse into what happens beneath the soil. Raised planting beds (Trinity's beds are 24 inches high) make gardening an easy and pleasurable experience since they can easily be tended by people sitting in a wheelchair or at the side of the garden. Everything is within arm's reach. A planting wall and a turn-style garden take the "chore" out of plant care because of their accessibility.
From drying herbs in dehydrators to adding fresh herbs in cooking, plants grown in the program have many uses. Plant Health Care is always observed in Trinity gardens. This practice is based on the concept that when plants receive proper care, the use of pesticides and insecticides can be avoided. This results in safe and environmentally responsible gardening. A compost recycling bin helps to provide healthy and reusable soil used in the program. Trinity’s resident tortoise, birds and fish add another aspect of nature to the program, creating opportunities to focus on caring for and respecting animals.
To support its mission, Horticulture has seasonal plant sales, the largest being the annual Spring Flower & Garden sale. Each year the sale starts the Sunday before Mother’s Day. The greenhouse is open the day before Mother's Day and on weekdays through the end of May. Bedding plants, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets, exotic annuals, container gardens, and special orders are offered at reasonable prices. There are other seasonal sales throughout the year, including real wreaths and poinsettias beginning after Thanksgiving. Look for announcements about Horticulture's sales on the Trinity Services marquee and in Trinity newsletters, as well as flyers, postcard mailings, local papers and church bulletins.
Scarecrow Fest, sponsored by the Horticultural Therapy program, is a way of giving back to the community, providing old-fashioned fun at roll back prices. This is an agency wide event at Trinity Services. No outside vendors are accepted, and all proceeds benefit the agency. It takes place on the Saturday following Columbus Day in October, at the Trinity Services main building at 100 N. Gougar Rd., in Joliet.
Volunteer opportunities are available in Horticultural Therapy as well as other areas of Trinity. Contact Bill Kahoun at 815.717.3750 or e-mail him at bkahoun@trinity-services.org.
Donations are also accepted any time. If you wish to donate online, click here.
For more information about Trinity's Horticultural Therapy program, contact Judy Jones at 815.485.6197.