Horticulture therapy through edible garden project

Abstract

The Edible Garden Project is a special group innovation project designed for the patients at Klinik Kesihatan Tanjung Malim (KKTM) under the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program (PSR) especially individuals with mental health problems, elderly and disabled. The project can be looked as a module and useful alternative therapy for PSR in order to speed up the recovery process, including self-expression, sensory stimulation, social interaction as well as practicing fine and gross motor skills along with eye-hand coordination. In addition, this project will also aim to develop the potential for KKTM as a reference hub in innovation therapy as well as being a recreational or social activities related to the surrounding community. The program is based on the involvement of community volunteers consisting of lectures and students, employees and patients undergoing treatment in KKTM along with an expert from the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) to share and disseminate knowledge on edible garden and their innovation on therapeutic benefits. The main emphasis of the project was given to the development of an attractive and well-planned edible garden design as well as to promote horticulture therapy benefits with the selection of plant species through short-term crop rotation between one to six months. Overall, the program seeks to create a community agent of transformation towards a more dynamic and quality in line with the objectives outlined in 3Qs Perak Amanjaya.