Growing Community Connection and Social Belonging through Inclusive, Accessible Gardening
Project DIG was a pilot therapeutic horticulture (PDF) program in collaboration with . Tracy Boehm Barrett led the program participants in gardening activities and experiences to understand how gardening can support the health and well-being of people with disabilities. Project DIG’s mission was to promote quality of life and meaningful community participation through inclusive, accessible gardening.
The pilot was designed to gather outcomes on the impacts of therapeutic horticulture on participants’ personal goals and sense of belonging as a foundation for sustained program development. It is hoped this pilot project will provide a proof of concept for future therapeutic horticulture programs.
The Rural Institute partnered with of Southern Cross University to design a program and trainings based on best practices of therapeutic horticulture. The pilot ran Spring-Fall 2023, with Project DIG team members working alongside The Arc residents, caregivers, and staff to work and learn together.
- Download the Project DIG flyer (PDF)for additional information on the pilot project.
Gardening activities for Project DIG were completed in October 2023. The project director interviewed participants at the end of the gardening season about their experiences to assess the project’s impact. We compiled information from these interviews and conversations from throughout the gardening season into two reports, which you can access below.
Project Director: Tracy Boehm Barrett
Contact: Molly Kimmel