Sensory Herb Gardens for Special Needs Children

The Herb Society of America Blog

By Candace Riddle

IMG_0317Ever since Beatrix Potter wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit,children and gardens have had a special friendship. That friendship is even stronger between children with special needs and special gardens called “sensory gardens.” 

The difference between a sensory garden and a “regular” garden is the human factor— regular display gardens are designed primarily for visual beauty, while a sensory garden is designed to stimulate all the senses: sight, sound, scent, touch, and taste. A display garden is meant to be viewed or seen from either a short or long distance, whereas a sensory garden is meant to be experienced close and personal using all five of the human senses.  

Educators describe a sensory herb garden as peaceful and calming with the ability to draw kids into the moment; even non-verbal kids can show their feelings about their garden experience.

When we use the term “children…

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Children’s Garden opens at Kew Gardens helping kids to learn about what plants need to grow

Life & Soul Magazine

A new Children’s Garden, which provides an interactive space for kids to learn about the elements and everything a plant needs to grow, is opening at Kew Gardens this weekend [Saturday 18 May].

The garden, set in a natural setting the size of 40 tennis courts wrapped around a 200-year-old oak in the centre, is a space for kids aged 2-12 to learn about the things that plants need to grow – essentially the elements: earth, air, sun and water.

In the Earth Garden children can weave through a living bamboo tunnel, explore a jungle of large leafed palms and slide down ‘worm-hole’ tubes. Through this experience, there’s opportunities to learn about earth science, from germination to plants with interesting roots.

Through a ring of sunflowers and pink candy floss grass, sits the Sun Garden with its windy and twisted paths. Cherry blossoms from a row of cherry trees and hoop frames…

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CREATING HERB GARDENS WITH CHILDREN

Visit http://www.kidsgardening.org/ for more fun gardening ideas at school or at home. Herbs arouse kids’ curiosity and interest because they thoroughly engage the senses. What better motivator for student investigations than plants that feel cool, smell great, and can turn mere tomatoes into pizza sauce? Their life stories, it turns out, are fascinating too. After all, […]

via Creating Herb Gardens With Children — Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

HERBARIUM PROJECT FOR CHILDREN

An herbarium is a collection of dried plants that botanists use for studying, identifying, and classifying plants. Making an herbarium is a great way for kids and their parents to learn about botany and the plants used in herbalism. An herbarium will help you and your child get to know what plants look like, along with […]

via HERBARIUM PROJECT FOR CHILDREN — Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

FUN ON THE WILD SIDE ~ INTRODUCTION TO HERBS FOR KIDS: WILDCRAFTING

Take a trip outside your door and look down! What do you see? Do you see little plants growing? Perhaps it is one single little dandelion or maybe you have found a whole area of plants growing and thriving. You won’t have to go far to find wild plants! Sometimes wild plants found around homes, […]

via Fun On The Wild Side ~ INTRODUCTION TO HERBS FOR KIDS: WILDCRAFTING — Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Australia: jail young children without charges; they wouldn’t do that; oh yes they would

Back To School Buddies ~ HealingCrystals.com

Gemstone jicaraYikes! It’s almost ‘that time of year’ again – back to school. But never fear – the superhero crystals are here to help both parents and kids get back in the swing of it. Each new school year can bring with it new routines, new challenges, and new things to learn and enjoy. Crystals and their energy can be helpful allies for this transitional time of year.

Kids can take their crystals to school with them in the form of tumbled stones kept in a pouch in their backpacks or perhaps or as a pendant, so the crystals can do their work without becoming a distraction or an issue while at school.  Crystal key chains can be a functional way to take the energy to school. They can be clipped to backpacks or pencil cases. Older students with lockers might hang the key chains in their locker to be a touchstone between classes.

Here are some school challenges and crystals that can help:

Separation Anxiety:  Rose Quartz can be soothing for separation anxiety (this applies to both Mom and little one!) and helping keep that “I’m loved” feeling throughout the day.

DisorganizationFluorite can assist with clearing out clutter and finding routines that encourage organization. Fluorite is also a wonderful aid for concentration during class.

Shyness:  Blue Lace AgateLapis Lazuli and Amazonite can be helpful for finding their voice and sharing their thoughts in and out of class.

Making Friends:  Green Aventurine has a loving, calming, nurturing, yet happy energy that allows us to appreciate ourselves and others (who wouldn’t want a friend like that?).

Grounding/Protection:  Hematite (for teens, not younger children) and Red Jasper (all ages) can help ground and center children and adults, making them less vulnerable to energy attacks and bullies.

Autism:  SugiliteChrysocolla, and Lapis Lazuli  have been found helpful for those with autism.  Black Tourmaline can also help ground and protect children with autism who may be overly energy-sensitive in a crowded school setting.

ADD/ADHD:  Many people have found Moonstone helpful for students (and adults!) who struggle with this.  Selenite and Sodalite may also offer a calming presence.

Energy-Sensitive Children:  For those who are overwhelmed by all the constantly fluctuating energies of the school environment, Black Tourmaline, Black Obsidian, and Garnet can help ground and protect them, allowing them to concentrate more comfortably on their schoolwork.

Here are some crystal suggestions for those going off to college, perhaps for the first time:

Charoite helps to relieve the loneliness and homesick feelings.

Rose Quartz can remind the student of the unconditional love at home and a piece next to the bed can create a calming, loving atmosphere in their dorm room.

Black Tourmaline, for releasing negative feelings, paired with Lepidolite for its calming, relaxing energy, will remind you that everything will be alright and relieve stress and anxiety.

Selenite under the pillow can help provide a more restful night’s sleep.

Iolite encourages you to take responsibility for yourself, helping you to become less dependent on your parents.

Green Fluorite and Malachite can for help being more focused and observant in class and for processing and comprehending challenging subjects. Definitely a must-have stone for any grad student too.

Emerald promotes new friendships and healthy relationships. Wearing a piece of this crystal as a pendant is a great way to keep it with you.

Fluorite and Moss Agate are useful for strengthening the immune system and fighting off bacteria and viruses that can get you sick.

-References: “Back to School with Crystals” By Debbie Elaine, and “Pack Your Crystals When You Head Off to College!” By Stephanie Arnold 

The psychiatric agenda destroys creative children

Groups File Formal Petition to Ban Cyanide Traps in Wyoming

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Story by as published on the Casper Star Tribune

“We’re not at war with native wildlife, and it is irresponsible to allow poison landmines to be sown anywhere in Wyoming,”

Star-Tribune File Photo

A coalition of environmental groups formally petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday asking for a ban of M-44s, a cyanide trap used to kill coyotes across the state.

Many of the groups, which include Western Watersheds Project, WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity, filed a similar petition in Idaho in March. Wildlife Services, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, decided to remove all M-44s from private, state and federal land in Idaho.

“We’re not at war with native wildlife, and it is irresponsible to allow poison landmines…

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The 30th Annual New England Women’s Herbal Conference – Honoring the Wisdom of Our Ancestors & The Voices of Tomorrow