Chapel Hill Retreat Center

Chapel Hill Retreat CenterChapel Hill Retreat CenterChapel Hill Retreat Center

Chapel Hill Retreat Center

Chapel Hill Retreat CenterChapel Hill Retreat CenterChapel Hill Retreat Center
  • Home
  • Purpose
  • Principles
    • About the Principles
    • Permaculture
    • Therapeutic Horticulture
    • Shinrin-yoku
  • Programs
    • About the Programs
    • Self-Guided Retreats
    • Facilitated Retreats
    • Speeches and Workshops
  • People
  • Place
    • About the Place
    • About the Place 2
    • Plant Tour
    • Plant List
    • Bird List
    • Rock List
    • Recommended Readings
    • Recommended Resources
  • More
    • Home
    • Purpose
    • Principles
      • About the Principles
      • Permaculture
      • Therapeutic Horticulture
      • Shinrin-yoku
    • Programs
      • About the Programs
      • Self-Guided Retreats
      • Facilitated Retreats
      • Speeches and Workshops
    • People
    • Place
      • About the Place
      • About the Place 2
      • Plant Tour
      • Plant List
      • Bird List
      • Rock List
      • Recommended Readings
      • Recommended Resources
  • Home
  • Purpose
  • Principles
    • About the Principles
    • Permaculture
    • Therapeutic Horticulture
    • Shinrin-yoku
  • Programs
    • About the Programs
    • Self-Guided Retreats
    • Facilitated Retreats
    • Speeches and Workshops
  • People
  • Place
    • About the Place
    • About the Place 2
    • Plant Tour
    • Plant List
    • Bird List
    • Rock List
    • Recommended Readings
    • Recommended Resources

The Principles and Practices that Guide our Programs

Permaculture

Therapeutic Horticulture

Therapeutic Horticulture

 Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature. It is an approach to land design and management based on twelve principles and whole-systems thinking. 

Therapeutic Horticulture

Therapeutic Horticulture

Therapeutic Horticulture

Therapeutic horticulture is a professional practice of using plant and nature-based activities to enhance well-being. The garden and programs are designed to improve participant's psychological, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, and/or vocational goals. 

Shinrin-yoku

Therapeutic Horticulture

Shinrin-yoku

Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is a Japanese practice of slow-walking and deep-breathing through the forest.  This calm, quiet time in nature has well-documented medical benefits. 

Recommended Readings

On Therapeutic Horticulture (including Transcendent Experiences in NAture)

Haller R. L., Kennedy K. L., Capra C. L. (2019). The Profession and Practice of Horticultural

Therapy. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press.

  • This is the Horticultural Therapy textbook used by the NC Botanical Garden and NC State University in the Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate Program. It covers theory, practice and program development, and is filled with practitioners’ first-hand experiences to illustrate the concepts. 


Kimmerer, R. W. (2013). Braiding Sweetgrass. Milkweed Editions.

  • This is a compilation of essays by a Native American woman who weaves together ancestral plant knowledge and science into a tapestry of important lessons for our modern world.


Lewis C. A. (1996). Green Nature, Human Nature. University of Illinois Press, Urbana and

Chicago.

  • This book about the importance of plants in our lives reads like a work of literature while providing a firm foundation for the practice of the therapeutic use of horticulture. 


Simson S. P. and Straus M. C. (1998). Horticulture as Therapy, Principles and Practices. The Food Products Press, New York, London.

  • This textbook provides a thorough overview of the breadth and depth of client groups and settings for practice, as well as design techniques and tools for various settings. Important skill development for the therapist is discussed. 


Louv, Richard. (2005). Last Child in the Woods. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books


Bruce, Hank. (1999). Gardens for the Senses: Gardening as Therapy. Sorrento, FL: Petals

and Pages.


Bruce, Hank. (2000). Gardening Projects for Horticultural Therapy Programs Using CelluGro. Sorrento, FL: Petals and Pages Press.


Bruce, Hank and Tomi Jill Folk. Garden Projects for the Classroom and Special

Learning Programs. Rio Rancho, NM: Petals and Pages, 2003.


Cassidy, Patty. The Age-Proof Garden. London, England: Anness Publishing, 2012.


Dennee, JoAnne, et. al. In the Three Sisters Garden, Native American Stories and

Seasonal Activities for the Curious Child. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing

Company, 1996


Fiarotta, Phyllis. Snips, Snails and Walnut Whales, Nature Crafts for Children. New

York: Workman Publishing Company, 1975


Hewson, Mitchell. Horticulture As Therapy, A Practical Guide to Using

Horticulture as a Therapeutic Tool. Guelph, Ontario: Homewood Health Centre,

1994.


Gabaldo, Maria, et. al. eds. Health Through Horticulture. A Guide for Using the

Outdoor Garden for Therapeutic Outcomes. Glencoe, Il: Chicago Botanic Garden,

2003.


Moore, Bibby. Growing with Gardening, A Twelve-Month Guide for Therapy,

Recreation, and Education. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press,

1989.


Rothert, Eugene et. al. Health Through Horticulture: Indoor Gardening Activity

Plans. Chicago: Chicago Botanic Garden, 2009.


Cohen, M. (1993). Integrated ecology: The process of counseling with nature.

The Humanistic Psychologist, 21, 279-295.


Fredrickson, L. & Anderson, D. (1999). A qualitative exploration of the wilderness experience as a source of spiritual inspiration. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 19(1), 21-39. Peer-reviewed qualitative exploration of wilderness experience and spiritual inspiration.


Mazumdar, S. & Mazumdar, S. (1993). Sacred spaces and place attachment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 13(1993), 231-242. Peer-reviewed qualitative study exploration of interconnectedness between religion, identity, and attachment to sacred places.


Oliven, P. (1998). Cultivating sacred space: Gardening for the soul. Library Journal, 123(3), 165.


Powell, L., Shahabi, L., & Thoresen, C. (2003). Religion and spirituality: linkages to physical health. American Psychologist, 58(1), 36-52. Peer-review article of links between spirituality, religion, and health.


Williams, K. & Harvey, D. (2001). Transcendent experience in forest environment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21(2001), 249-260. Peer-reviewed qualitative study describes subjects' transcendent experiences in a forest.


Yu, Wan-Wei, Ling, Der-Lin, Chang, Yu-Sen. (June 2010). Comparison of the effects of plant parables on the promotion of spiritual benefits in students with differing horticultural backgrounds. HortTechnology. 20(3)568-573.

On Forest BathinG (including the Medical Benefits of Phytoncides)

Covit, D. (2023, Mar 24). “Why Everyone Should Try Forest Bathing.” Vogue. [Magazine]. https://www.vogue.com/article/why-everyone-should-try-forest-bathing


Gentle Finds. (2021, Mar 23). “Forest Bathing with Dr. Qing Li.” [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvNksdPadJQ


Kirsten Dirksen (2016, May 30). “Practicing forest-bathing: fewer maladies, more well-being?” [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jPNll1Ccn0 


Li, Q. (2018, May 1). “‘Forest Bathing’ Is Great for Your Health. Here’s How to Do It.” [Magazine]. Time. https://time.com/5259602/japanese-forest-bathing/


Li, Q. (X). (2018). “Forest Bathing: The Japanese Art and Science of Shinrin-Yoku. How Trees can help you find health and happiness.” [Book]. Penguin Random House LLC.  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/579709/forest-bathing-by-dr-qing-li/ 


Li, Q. (2018, Apr 17). “FOREST BATHING: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness.” [Book]. Viking, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.


Li, Q. (2010, Jan 15). “Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function.” Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine. [Journal]. 2010 Jan; 15(1): 9–17. doi: 10.1007/s12199-008-0068-3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/


Li, Q. et al. (2007). “Forest Bathing Enhances Human Natural Killer Activity and Expression of Anti-Cancer Proteins.” International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology. 2007;20(2_suppl):3-8. doi:10.1177/03946320070200S202. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03946320070200S202 


Li, Q. et al (2006). “Phytoncides (Wood Essential Oils) Induce Human Natural Killer Cell Activity, Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology.” Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, 28:2. Pp. 319-333. [Journal]. DOI: 10.1080/08923970600809439. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08923970600809439 


Li, Q et al. (2009). “Effect of Phytoncide from Trees on Human Natural Killer Cell Function.” [Journal]. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology. 2009;22(4):951-959. doi:10.1177/039463200902200410. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/039463200902200410 


Penguin Books UK. (2018, Apr 24). “The Art and Science of Forest Bathing with Dr Qing Li.” [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12CCjoixpkA


Phillips, A.L. (2011, July-August). A Walk in the Woods: Evidence builds that time spent in the natural world benefits human health.” [Journal]. American Scientist, Volume 99, Number 4, p. 301. DOI: 10.1511/2011.91.301. https://www.americanscientist.org/article/a-walk-in-the-woods


Williams, K. & Harvey, D. (2001). Transcendent experience in forest environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21(2001), 249-260. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027249440190204X?via%3Dihub 

On Permaculture (including Food Forests)

Falk, B. (2013, Oct 11). Ben Falk TEDx Talk: Homestead Resiliency, Food Systems Regeneration. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKND0131d3g 


Dana & Sarah Films (2016, Dec 2). Back To Eden Gardening Documentary Film - How to Grow a Regenerative Organic Garden. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rPPUmStKQ4 


Piner, A. (2022, Feb 1). Appendix G. Permaculture Design. In Moore, K. (Ed.) North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/appendix-g-permaculture-design (access the entire NC Extension Gardeners Handbook)


Falk, B. (2013). The resilient farm and homestead: An innovative permaculture and whole systems design approach. Chelsea Green Publishing. 


Holzer, S. (2004). Sepp Holzer’s permaculture: A practical guide to small-scale, integrative farming and gardening. Chelsea Green Publishing. 


National Geographic. (2019, Feb 18). A Forest Garden With 500 Edible Plants Could Lead to a Sustainable Future | Short Film Showcase. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Q_m_0UPOzuI

Forested. (2022, Jan 12). EDIBLE FOREST GARDEN · Grow Food & Heal the Earth · Lessons Learned. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_C_R1Z9ixE


Toensmeier, E. (n.d.). Perennial Solutions. [Videos]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@perennialsolutions 


Smith, L. (n.d.). Forest Garden Design Guide, 3rd Edition. [PDF]. Forested. Bowie, MD. https://www.forested.us/forest-garden-newsletter

Toensmeier, E. (2007). Perennial vegetables: From artichoke to zuiki taro, a gardener's guide to over 100 delicious, easy-to-grow edibles. Chelsea Green Publishing. White River Junction, VT.

Smith, L. (n.d.) Permaculture Design Course. [Workshop] Forested. Bowie, MD. https://www.forested.us/permaculture-design-course

Falk, B. (n.d.). Permaculture Design Course. [Workshop] Whole Systems Design. Mad River 

Valley, VT. https://www.wholesystemsdesign.com/permaculture-design-course
 

“Nature does not hurry, but everything is accomplished.”

 Lao Tzu 


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