This session explores the profound health benefits of connecting with plants and nature through therapeutic horticulture. We delve into evidence-based research highlighting its stress-reducing, cardiovascular-supporting, mental health-preserving, vitamin D-boosting, and social bonding impacts. We also address how it nurtures a sense of purpose and promotes positive coping strategies. Learn about the practice of therapeutic horticulture, how to incorporate it as a therapeutic modality, and discover the training and resources available to recreational therapists.

This session will be lead by Alexis Ashworth

Alexis is the passionate founder of Root in Nature, a venture born out of her deep love for plants, gardening, and the therapeutic benefits they offer. Holding a BComm in Finance and an MBA in International Development Management, Alexis brings a blend of business acumen and a passion for making a positive impact. With over a decade of experience as CEO of Habitat for Humanity in Ottawa and Halifax, Alexis was recognized as one of Ottawa Business Journal’s Forty Under 40. 

Alexis’s journey into horticulture began through her volunteer work with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), where she discovered the profound connection between nature and well-being. Her dedication to horticultural therapy led her to study the Foundations of Horticultural Therapy and become an active member of the American and Canadian Horticultural Therapy Associations (AHTA & CHTA). On weekends, you’ll find her tending to her fruit & vegetable gardens, cultivating food that her husband skillfully cooks and her two young daughters enjoy.