People-Plant Council Newsletter - Summer 1997
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We've added to the web site. Come visit:
http://www.hort.vt.edu/human/human.html
People-Plant
Council NewsLinking Horticulture with Human Well-Being
Volume 7 Summer 1997 Issue 2
Route To:
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PPC Forms Working Group
The People-Plant Council has recently formed the Working
Group for International Collaborative Research. The functionof this group will be to facilitate the development of research
teams around the world to address shared issues or areas ofresearch under the umbrella of human issues in horticulture.
The initial membership consists of individuals affiliated withdepartments of horticulture or plant sciences who are conduct-
ing research to explore perceived and physical response to themaintained environment and to environmental quality, youth
development through integration of horticulture in the class-room, horticulture as a therapeutic tool, and similar topics.
The first meeting will be held at Virginia Tech, BlacksburgVirginia, October 2-5, 1997.
Members of the working group are:
Meg Burchett - Sydney, AustraliaAino-Maija Evers - Helsinki, Finland
Tony Kendle - Reading, EnglandVirginia Lohr - Pullman, Washington, USAEisuke Matsuo - Hakozaki, JapanDiane Relf - Blacksburg, Virginia, USACandice Shoemaker - Glencoe, Illinois, USAWoo Kyung Sim - Seoul, KoreaJane Stoneham - Bath, EnglandRon Woods - Kenthurst, AustraliaJayne Zajicek - College Station, Texas, USA
Activities of the group will be published in the next newsletter.
Grounds for CelebrationAn International Conference about
School Grounds
Grounds for Celebration: An International Conference about
School Grounds will be held in Winchester, England, Septem-ber 21-24, 1997. An aim of this conference is to agree on and
adopt a declaration about the international importance of schoolgrounds. For more information, contact Denise Slater, Re-search and Training Unit, Learning Through Landscapes, P.O.
Box 283, Elton, Peterborough, PE8 6SZ, England; Phone:01832-280659; Fax: 01832-280002; e-mail: [email protected].
Plan Now to See Sydney
Are you interested in traveling together at a group rate
to the PPC symposium in Sydney? Let me hear fromyou. If there is enough interest, Ill put together a group
for a significant savings.
Diane Relf (Department of Horticulture, Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0327; e-mail: [email protected])
International People-Plant Symposium
Towards a New Millennium in
People-Plant Relationships19-22 July, 1998Sydney, Australia
WRITE OR E-MAIL TODAY
ACGA Conference
Take Note! The American Community Garden AssociationAnnual Conference will be held in Indianapolis, September 24-
28, 1997. Workshops for the 1997 conference are GrowingSustainable Programs from the Ground Up, Community Gar-
den Participatory Design Process, The Business of Commu-nity Gardening: Developing and Managing Your CommunityGreening Organization, Getting Your Hands Dirty, plus So You
Want to Work in Neighborhoods?!
For more information, contact Tom Tyler, Purdue University
Cooperative Extension (Phone: 317-848-7351; Fax: 317-848-7229; e-mail: [email protected]) or Ben Long, Civic
Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati (Phone: 513-221-0991;Fax: 513-221-0961).
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Indoor Plants May Increase WorkerProductivity
Pullman, Wash. Treat that forgotten Boston fern in the cor-ner of your office with a little more respect. A new study at
Washington State University shows for the first time that liveinterior plants may increase worker productivity and reducestress. The study, published in the Journal of Environmental
Horticulture, reports that productivity increased 12 percentwhen people performed a simple task on a computer in a win-
dowless room with plants compared to workers who performedthe same task in the same room without plants.
The task was stressful. Blood pressures for both groups rose
during the task, but only two points for people tested with plants,while it rose four points for people tested without plants. The
average blood pressure for both groups before the test wasroughly the same. Additionally, people tested in the presenceof plants reported feeling about 10 percent more attentive after
the task than those tested without plants.
We have not been able to find other studies that document
worker productivity in the presence of live plants, said Vir-ginia Lohr, a WSU horticulturist whose research focuses onthe effects of plants on people.
The WSU study was conducted by Lohr; Caroline Pearson-Mims, a research technologist; and Georgia Goodwin, a gradu-ate assistant. Since the 1960s, office planners have claimed
that productivity is higher in landscaped offices, Pearson-Mimssaid. It was not clear whether the benefits were from plants or
new designs with modern furniture and lighting. We think thisstudy starts to answer that question.
This experiment was conducted in a university computer labo-
ratory with plants present and absent. Ninety-six university stu-dents and employees participated. Blood pressure and pulse were
measured when participants entered the room, midway throughthe computer task, and at the tasks completion. Before and
after, participants recorded their feelings in response to suchstatements as I feel attentive.
At the beginning of the experiment, both groups reported the
same level of attentiveness, but those who were tested in thepresence of plants reported feeling more attentive after com-
pleting the task, which required some concentration. Peopletested in the absence of plants reported no increase in atten-
tiveness.
The productivity task consisted of identifying common sym-bols that randomly appeared on a computer screen. Participants
quickly pressed a key corresponding to each symbol when itappeared. The computer recorded their performance. There wasno difference in number of errors, Lohr said. The big differ-
ence was reaction time -- how quickly they pressed the correctkey when plants were present.
The researchers cant explain how plants help people relax andperform better. There are two major theories Im aware of thatcould account for this, Lohr said. One relates to reduced blood
pressure. A number of studies have documented that plants ornature can lower blood pressure. By somehow causing us to be
more relaxed, plants help us be more productive and focused.
She said other people think that plants may reduce mental fa-tigue. One of the things that happens when you suffer menta
fatigue is that you no longer are able to make good decisions.
Lohr said one major study found that walking in a garden helpsrestore a persons ability to make good decisions. Plants are
not just fluff, she said. We have felt, and many people whowork with plants intuitively believe, that having plants around
us is vital to our well-being.
The study was funded by the American Floral Endowment andthe Horticultural Research Institute. (Press Release, Washing
ton State University News, College of Agriculture & HomeEconomics, Pullman, WA 99164-6244)
[Lohr, Virginia L., Caroline H. Pearson-Mims, and Georgia K
Goodwin. 1996.Interior Plants May Improve Worker Productivity and Reduce Stress in a Windowless Environment. Wash-
ington State University. Journal of Environmental Horticul
ture 14(2):97-100.]
Research Abstracts
Lohr, Virginia L. and Caroline H. Pearson-Mims. 1996
Particulate Matter Accumulation on Horizontal Sur
faces in Interiors: Influence of Foliage Plants. Wash
ington State University. Atmospheric Environmen
30(14):2565-2568
Particulate matter accumulation on horizontal surfaces wasmeasured gravimetrically, at one week intervals, in two interio
spaces. Interior plants were added to or removed from the roomson a random schedule. Particulate matter accumulation wa
lower in both rooms when plants were present than when plantwere absent. The location of particulate matter deposition wa
unaffected by the presence or absence of plants: collectiondishes located near the corners of a room consistently accu-mulated less particulate matter than dishes in other locations
regardless of treatment. In addition, relative humidity was higherwhen plants were present.
Marni Barnes. 1996. The Healing Art of Landscape
Architecture inDesign for Change: Vision, Value,
Community, the 1996 Annual Meeting Proceedings of the
American Society of Landscape Architects. ASLA
Bookstore, PO Box 753, Waldorf, MD 20604-0753;
Phone: 1-800-787-2665.
The sights, sounds, and smells that surround us have a tremen-
dous impact on our emotions. The appearance of a rainbowgives rise to a smile; memories are triggered by fragrancescleansing and releasing are assisted by a stiff breeze or a plunge
into a cool lake. As increasing numbers of people are living inurban and suburban environments, our society is becoming in-
creasingly divorced from its natural surroundings. People areturning to their accessible, designed landscapes to provide the
stress reduction and emotional healing that contact with theoutdoors brings. By attending to the impact of our surround-ings on our emotions, landscape architects can dramatically
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increase the therapeutic benefit derived from our environment.
To do this effectively, the relationship between our environ-ment and its influence on the process of stress reduction andemotional restoration need to be understood. This research elu-
cidates the connection between emotional restoration and en-vironmental settings specifically chosen by individuals to as-
sist their healing process.
Grants
TurfThe ITPF Research Committee and Board of Directors encour
age you to submit a research proposal for consideration in the1997-98 fiscal year. Write to the International Turf Producers
Foundation, 1855-A Hicks Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008Phone: (847) 705-9898.
Russian Roofs Bloom!
Small Grants Program Created forNonprofit Organizations
Eighty St. Petersburg rooftops have sprouted vegetable gardens
as a result of CCIs Rooftop Gardening Project. 1996 saw in-credible growth in the project, largely due to the 2,000 visitors
who visited CCIs booth at the spring City Flowers & Designexhibition.
In recognition of their work, St. Petersburgs Downtown Gar-dening Club will represent Russia at the European Support Group
on Urban Agriculture (an EU initiative based in the Netherlands).In 1997, the Agricultural Initiative is launching a small grants
program to improve food security at nonprofit institutions serv-ing the disadvantaged. They are also testing the application of
RTG techniques in horticultural therapy and rehabilitationprojects.
[The Agricultural Initiative Center for Citizen Initiatives (CCI),3268 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94115. Phone: 415-
346-1875; Fax: 415-346-3731; e-mail: [email protected];Web site: www.igc.org/cci]
Position:Horticultural TherapistThe Chicago Botanic Garden, located 30 miles north of Chi-cago in Glencoe, seeks a Horticultural Therapist to promote
the utilization of horticultural therapy by the social service net-work and to implement self-reliant, year-round horticultural
therapy programs and training in the Chicago region aimed toimprove the quality of life for people with disabilities by in-volvement in horticulture.
Candidate must have a degree in Horticultural Therapy or Hor-ticulture or similar program, with additional course work in
health care professions including recreational therapy, occupa-tional therapy, physical therapy and/or nursing; or a degree in
recreational therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy ornursing and a minimum of a two-year degree in Horticulture orHorticulture Therapy. Candidate must have current registration
with the American Horticultural Therapy Association at the levelof HTR or HTM. In addition, certification as OTRN or Recre-
ational Therapist preferred. Candidate must have two years pre-vious experience working with at least two of the following
special populations in the therapeutic setting: developmentallydisabled, physical disabled, older adults, or psychiatric clients.Candidate must have strong oral and written communication and
computer skills.
Please submit resume with cover letter to Carol Chaney, Chi-
cago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL60022. EOE.
Resources
10 Timely Tipsheets
Thanks to a grant from the National Tree Trust, the followingpacket of Citizen Forestry Support System (CFSS) tipsheets isavailable free for the asking when you call (800) 323-1560 or
e-mail [email protected]. Better yet, look under Citizen ForestrySupport System on American Forests homepage:www.amfor.org. Most include books, periodicals, and otherresources to help you implement the suggestions made. Please
allow two weeks for delivery, or request a fax-back if your needis immediate. If, after reading a tipsheet, youre ready for morehelp, call again!
- Starting a Nonprofit - First Steps- Finding Funding- The Care and Feeding of Volunteers
- The Making of Leaders- Raising Money Through Membership
- Developing Media Savvy- Avoiding Burnout- How to Run an Effective Meeting
- Plan Now - Or Pay Later- Assessing Your Organization
(From Lean & Green, A Resource for Tree Groups, Volume 2 Num-
ber 3, Summer 1997)
Arboriculture
The International Society of Arboriculture Research Trust an-
nounces the John Z. Duling Grant Program. For successful ap-plicants, grant awards will vary depending on the adjudged value
of the project to the needs of the arboricultural industry. How-ever, no single award will receive more than $5,000. Please
note that funds cannot be used to pay for overhead expenses.
Research funded by the Trust must be in keeping with its mission and the Priority Areas and Critical Issues for Research andTechnology Transfer:
- Ecological Benefits of the Urban Forest
- Economic Benefits of the Urban Forest- Innovative Tree-care Techniques and Practices- Urban Tree Genetics
- Impact of the Urban Forest on Energy Consumption- Basic Tree Biology
For copies of the grant application and information, write tothe ISA Research Trust at P.O. Box GG, Savoy, IL 61874. Or
you can download it electronically from the Web site:http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~isa/. No phone calls please.
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Please Copy The purpose of this newsletter is to increase people-plant interaction awareness. Please share its information with
others through your newsletters, magazines, etc. This newsletter is free. Send your name and address to begin your subscription.
VirginiaPolytechnicInstitute&StateUniversity
DepartmentofHorticulture BlacksburgVirginia24061-0327
The People-Plant Council Newsletter (ISSN 1061-03460) is a quarterlypublication of the People-Plant Council. Address correspondence to Dr.
Diane Relf, Chair, People-Plant Council, Department of Horticulture,
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0327. FAX: 703-231-3083.
Telephone: 540-231-6254.
New Books
Horticultural Therapy
The 1998Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, Horticultural
Therapy and the Older Adult Population, is now available fromthe American Horticultural Therapy Association. Copies may
be purchased by members at the discounted price of $15 plus$3 postage and by non-members at the publishers price of$25 plus $3 postage. Interested individuals should contact Jane
at the AHTA office (301) 948-3010 x16.
Resources Available from PPCBOOKSThe Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development
Diane Relf, Editor. 1992. Timber Press. 254 pages. $54.
People-Plant Relationships: Setting Research Priorities. Joel Flagler and
Raymond P. Poincelot, Editors. 1993. Food Products Press. 368 pages
$54.
The Healing Dimensions of People-Plant Relations: A Research Sympo-
sium. Mark Francis, Patricia Lindsey, and Jay Stone Rice, Editors. 1994
498 pages. $39.
COMPUTERIZED BIBLIOGRAPHIES $15 each.People-Plant Interaction (1305 citations) and Horticulture Therapy (1184
citations) bibliographies are available on 3.5-inch, DS/HD diskettes
containing the citations in WordPerfect 5.0. The material also can be
ordered on 3.5-inch diskettes as DOS text files. Updates - return original
diskette and $5.
VIDEOTAPES $15 each.1) Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development -
reflections of Jules Janick, Charles Lewis, Roger Ulrich, Russ Parson,
and Diane Relf.
2) The Art of Rhonda Roland Shearer.
**** All prices include shipping and handling. Make checks
payable to Treasurer, Virginia Tech. ****
PPC Affiliation and Contributors
The PPC is not a membership organization, rather a link or affiliation between
organizations. Affiliation is open to all organizations within the horticulture
and social science communities and allied or interested organizations.
Affiliates of PPC (between 1990-1997)
American Society for Horticultural Science
Associated Landscape Contractors of AmericaWholesale Florists and Florist Suppliers of America
American Horticultural Therapy Association
Society of American Florists
American Association of Nurserymen
Contributors to PPC (between 1990-1997)
Horticulture Research Institute
Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association
Prepublication Announcement
Horticulture as Therapy: Principles and Practice, edited by
Sharon P. Simpson, PhD, Lecturer and Adjunct Professor, Uni-versity of Maryland, and Martha C. Straus, HTM, Horticultural
Therapy Coordinator, The Forbush School at Sheppard Pratt,Baltimore, Maryland.
Horticulture as Therapy establishes, integrates, and commu-nicates a foundation of knowledge for horticultural therapists,
health care professionals, horticulturists, students, researchscientists, gardeners, and those interested in this special and
unique kind of therapy. By reading Horticulture as Therapy,
you will see how you can make a difference in the health andwell-being of so many people, today and tomorrow. Date avail-
able: Fall 1997. Prices: $79.95 hard. ISBN: 1-56022-859-8(Outside US/Canada/Mexico: $96). Text price (5+ copies):
$29.95. Pages: 520 pp with Index. Categories: Agriculture/Horticulture, Horticultural Therapy, Mental Health.
Editor: Diane Relf
Chair, People-Plant Council
Assistant Editor: Melissa Williams