Our project was to help with Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Horticulture Therapy Program. We assisted the Program Director with maintaining the plants and grounds and preparing a new greenhouse for therapy sessions. The program uses horticulture to help patients at the psychiatric hospital, having them plant and care for plants. Working with plants has therapeutic effects on the children. The program grows vegetables and fruits to feed patients and sell extras to fund the program. A donation was received to build a second greenhouse and activity table to expand the space for the program. The next project is to purchase a new water pump that can service both greenhouses.

1. 2013 Super Service Challenge
Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital

2. Our project was to help with their Horticulture Therapy
Program. Since this is used with the Children’s Psychiatric
Hospital, we were not able to work directly with any of the
children. We were able to assist the Program Director with
hands on up keep of the plants and grounds. We also helped
prepare the new greenhouse for use during the their therapy
sessions. Due to the weather we were not able to get as
much done as we would have liked, but they were very happy
with our progress.

3. Before
the rains
fell…

5. This program started out very small and has
doubled in size in just a few years. They have
found that working with the dirt and plants has
had such a therapeutic effect on the children.
To watch their plants grow from a seed that
they planted into a plant that they can nurture
and grow has had wonderful benefits. They
use the vegetables and fruits for the children
at the hospital to eat and then sell the
abundance to help pay for the expenses of the
program.

6. Money was just donated
to build a second
greenhouse and activity
table. This has doubled
the working
space for the program
and has given them a
table that is approved for
use by all ages. This table
weighs over
500 pounds and has
nothing on it that can be
used to harm themselves
or others.

7. After construction of the
new green house, they
found that they do
not have a water pump
that will accommodate
both buildings.
Their next project is a
new pump. The money
we can help raise
will be for this water
pump. The total funds
needed are $9000.00, but
every penny helps.

8. As you can see, the children
personalize their plants. This
has been beneficial
throughout their therapy
sessions.

9. From an article written in Horticulture
Magazine and published last spring.
The young gardeners tend both ornamental
and edible plants, inside a greenhouse
and out in the yard. They work
on a variety of tasks that complement
their overall treatment at the residential
facility. Root crops, such as carrots and
radishes, show that even something a bit
rough around the edges has great value.
Watching other crops such as tomatoes,
pumpkins and squash develop and ripen
teaches about growth and change. They
each get to propagate plants that they
can take with them upon leaving the program,
as a reminder of their own growth.
Margaret Hay Director of the Program
A Garden of Hope

10. Thank you for giving us this
opportunity to serve.

11. Thank you Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for the opportunity come
and serve at your College Hill Horticulture Center.
Thank you Defender Cincinnati Call Center Employees for your
participation:
Crystal Brinker
Rebecca Flaspholer
Jill Bolin
Leah Iglesias
Samantha Getz
Faith Mitchell
DeAnn Harmon