{"id":13244,"date":"2025-11-21T14:36:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T14:36:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dug.org\/?post_type=latest_news&p=13244"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:54:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:54:24","slug":"cultivating-job-skills-through-gardening","status":"publish","type":"latest_news","link":"https:\/\/dug.org\/latest-news\/cultivating-job-skills-through-gardening\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultivating Job Skills Through Gardening"},"content":{"rendered":"

DUG\u2019s Therapeutic Garden Program<\/a> (TG) creates spaces for reflection, regulation, and renewal, offering programming that helps participants build social connections, healthier habits, and practical life skills. This year, DUG\u2019s Director of Therapeutic Gardens partnered with a class at the Tennyson Center for Children (TCC), whose mission is to improve the mental health and wellness of youth impacted by trauma. Since 2017, the TCC garden has been a haven for respite and creativity\u2014and this year, it also became an outdoor classroom for job skill development.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learning Through Hands-On Experience<\/b><\/h4>\n

Over eight weeks, students met in both the garden and the classroom with the goal of creating products to sell at a student-run Farmer\u2019s Market. Each session focused on a specific product while weaving in job skills training. Classes opened with a brief check-in, giving students a chance to share their energy levels, mood, and intentions for the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the garden, students explored plants up close, sparking ideas for what they might harvest and create. They gathered herbs, flowers, and tomatoes, working together to complete tasks and build communication and teamwork skills. Seed harvesting and saving provided practice in time management and attention to detail, while sensory exploration\u2014smelling lemon verbena, citronella, and mint and tasting fresh herbs\u2014helped them consider flavor profiles and possible tea blend combinations. Some students even ventured into trying cherry tomatoes, borage, and peppery nasturtiums.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back in the classroom, creativity bloomed. Students named their tea blends, used pressed flowers to make bookmarks and notecards, and learned food-safe techniques while preparing Thai basil pesto. Stripping leaves, measuring ingredients, and following detailed steps became opportunities to practice precision and responsibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Preparing for the Farmer\u2019s Market<\/b><\/h4>\n

As market day approached, students took on every aspect of preparation. They created advertisements, researched pricing, and planned materials for product displays. During the market, they welcomed customers, shared stories about their creations, and confidently assisted with transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The market was a huge success\u2014students raised funds for a class trip to the aquarium and also organized a cocoa day for the entire school.<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing Skills, Confidence, and Curiosity<\/b><\/h4>\n

Beyond the skill-building, the garden became a place of discovery. Students expressed surprise and excitement at learning which plants were edible\u2014exclaiming, \u201cI had no idea we could eat this!\u201d and \u201cThat\u2019s what mint looks like?\u201d They reflected on what plants need to thrive, drawing connections to their own growth and well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

They also took great pride in their work. Many brought their creations home to share with family, their joy captured in smiles, laughter, and enthusiastic thumbs-ups.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the final gathering, students shared a meal of noodles tossed with their homemade Thai basil pesto alongside lemon lavender cake. As they ate, they excitedly discussed what they hope to grow, create, and sell at next year\u2019s Farmer\u2019s Market.<\/span><\/p>\n

This partnership planted seeds of confidence, creativity, and community engagement\u2014growth that will continue long after the season ends.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":13247,"template":"","class_list":{"0":"post-13244","1":"latest_news","2":"type-latest_news","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"news_type-community","7":"news_type-therapeutic-gardens"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/latest_news\/13244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/latest_news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/latest_news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/latest_news\/13244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13248,"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/latest_news\/13244\/revisions\/13248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13247"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}