We are thrilled to share that Emilee Weaver, our Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager, has safely returned from her impactful training and consultation trip to Armenia and the Poland-Ukraine border. During her journey, Emilee worked with local communities deeply affected by war, trauma, and displacement, continuing her mission to expand the reach of therapeutic horticulture (TH) globally.
In Armenia, Emilee collaborated with the Yerevan Botanical Garden, conducting a workshop that brought together nonprofit organizations, botanical garden staff from Armenia and Georgia, and students from a local university. One of the standout moments was meeting Zoya, a student from our Online TH Certificate program, who is leading the design and installation of one of Armenia’s first therapeutic horticulture gardens! Emilee’s visit also included stops at the iconic Soviet-era greenhouses and the Armenian Tree Project’s headquarters, along with a visit to a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center for veterans and their families.
From Armenia, Emilee traveled to Przemysl, Poland, where she was hosted by the Bolestraszyce Arboretum, located just 1,000 feet from the Ukrainian border. This was an ideal location for their Ukrainian partners to meet safely and receive advanced TH training and consultation. According to Emilee, “To say that they have outdone themselves during a very trying and under-resourced time in Ukraine would be the understatement of the year.”
We celebrate their outstanding accomplishments and the shear persistence and heart that it took to overcome the challenges they faced! All workshops attendees received a training certificate for their involvement.
One of the trip’s memorable highlights was the innovative sensory garden at Bolestraszyce Arboretum, designed for individuals with visual impairments. Featuring raised path markers, Braille signs, and tactile ropes to guide visitors, the garden exemplifies how therapeutic horticulture can offer inclusive, healing spaces for all.
We are incredibly proud of the work Emilee has done and the connections she has fostered during her trip, which will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the communities she worked with.
Stay tuned for an exciting upcoming webinar where Emilee will be sharing more about her experiences and insights from this transformative journey.