Blooming Minds: Gardens for mental health

Gardens are rich terrain for practical emotional self-care. They offer the opportunity to think, feel and connect with your surroundings and can be a valuable resource for those in crisis. Elizabeth Balado developed a community garden-based therapeutic intervention. She organized printing workshops in several of Eindhoven's gardens together with different community and mental health organizations. Participants collect and identify plants and flowers and make a print by pressing them onto cotton using a roller or mallet. They’re encouraged to connect with their bodies and the earth through mindful touch, noticing smells, sounds and colours. Shared activity allows for easy conversation and creates a sense of community. The workshops help you connect with nature, be creative, learn skills, build self-esteem and fight loneliness.