Developing Projects
Herbal Medicine - Prescriptive Gardens
The “Prescriptive Garden Project” encourages healthier lifestyles through the creation of gardens tailored to an individual’s living space, health needs, culture, and personal choices. We invite community members to workshops on The Backyards 109 acre property to learn how to grow fruits and vegetable, providing everyone with the basic materials to do so. The end product is a productive garden in each participant’s home.
The most important result is an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption; other important benefits include increased physical activity, a decrease in grocery bills, and an improved sense of overall health and well-being. There are also numerous therapeutic benefits to gardening, above and beyond the improvement in nutrition. These new habits both support health promotion and address current health issues such as diabetes and obesity related illnesses.
Each garden is based on an individualized plan. The “Prescription” is created through an initial interview with a physician. This interview includes a brief health history, a blood pressure screen, weight, discussion of patient eating preferences, and overall health concerns ( including self-reported stress levels). In collaboration, the practitioner and patient decide on important additions to diet and how they can be easily incorporated in a participants living space. For example, a participant with a sunny balcony, history of heart disease, and love of spicy foods may create a “prescription” for tomato plants, a variety of peppers, lettuce, and spearmint tea.
Sustainable Energy Independent Living – A Demonstration Center
- Watershed Restoration
- Energy Independent Housing
- Health Retreat and Education Center