VOL. 20/NO. 1
Spring 2019
WaterSensitive Landscaping A Growing Opportunity Green Industry Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities
VOL. 20/NO. 1 •
News From TNLA TNLA Office Gets a New Logo!!
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Cover Story Water-Sensitive Landscaping — A Growing Opportunity
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Departments From the President............................................................................................................6 TNLA Sponsors..................................................................................................................6 Welcome, New TNLA Members.......................................................................................6 Upcoming Events...............................................................................................................7 Index of Advertisers...........................................................................................................7 Congratulations, New Master Nursery Graduates...........................................................8
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Spring 2019
Feature Story Green Industry Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities
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The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee GreenTimes, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright ©2019 by the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. Tennessee GreenTimes is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee GreenTimes allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
GroWers oF QuAlITY TurF sInce 1987 The Tennessee Greentimes is the official publication of The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 115 Lyon Street McMinnville, Tennessee 37110 (931) 473-3951 Fax (931) 473-5883 www.tnla.com Email: mail@tnla.com Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com
coosA VAlleY TurF FArms llc MeMber of
Editors Dr. Bill Klingeman Dr. Amy Fulcher Associate Editors Dr. Nick Gawel Dr. Frank Hale Dr. John Sorochan TNLA Officers President Jon Flanders Botanico, Inc. 1st Vice President Bert Driver Bert Driver Nursery 2nd Vice President Morgan Adcock Scenic Hills Nursery 3rd Vice President Michael Gallagher Heather Farms Nursery Secretary-Treasurer Cody Walker Walker Nursery Co. Associate Director Justin Woodlee Tennessee Valley Tractor & Equipment Ex-Officio Justin Stelter JS Gardening, LLC Executive Director Louree Walker
TIFWAY 419
Fescue
www.coosaValleyTurfFarms.com (256) 927-4228 • (256) 927-4758 FAX • cvtf@tds.net 900 county road 492 • centre, Al 35960
From the President Jon Flanders
TNLA Would like to
Thank
the following companies for being
Membership Sponsors Gold Membership Sponsors Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Mix, Inc. Blankenship Farms and Nursery Botanico, Inc. Flower City Nurseries Living Earth Nashville Living Earth Knoxville Nashville Landscape Systems, Inc. Putnals Premium Pine Straw, Inc. Randall Walker Farms Samara Farms Swafford Nursery, Inc. Tennessee 811 Warren County Nursery, Inc.
Silver Membership Sponsors Carpe Diem Farms Dayton Bag & Burlap Co. Lee-Smith Isuzu Nufarm Americas, Inc. Southern Ag Scenic Hills Nursery Turf Mountain Sod 6
tennessee greentimes Spring 2019
In The Green Industry,
Times They Are A Changin’ (with regards to Bob Dylan)
H
eraclitus of Ephesus told us that “the one constant is change.” This is also true of today’s Green Industry. Your TNLA board is adapting to that change in many ways from our partnership with MTNA to bring you the annual TNGIE show (please visit www.TNGIE.com) to the youthful composition of our current board to our improved web efforts (visit us at www.TNLA.com). We also interact and collaborate with TDA, Farm Bureau, Tennessee Secondary Schools, Tennessee State’s Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center and many other partners. We also host various events — educational (field days and classroom forums), social (dinner and entertainment during the TNGIE show), and fun (the HRI Classic). We hope you’ll join us in helping our industry adapt to meet 21st century challenges. Please participate on boards and committees when you can, and if you want to serve on the board, please let us know. You can also nominate deserving individuals and companies for awards. Please be looking for the call to do that soon. Also, there are scholarships for young people who are continuing their education in the green industry that students can apply for. Contact TNLA Director Louree Walker for more information on how to apply. There is always more work to be done and areas to improve upon in order for us to meet our mission statement of “hard working people representing hard working people in the green industry.” We need your help and your input to achieve our goals. I look forward to meeting the challenges of 2019 and continuing the proud legacy of your Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association, established 1905. Jon Flanders TNLA President
Welcome, New TNLA Members! Active Griffy Farms Nathan Griffy 5155 Whites Creek Pike Nashville, TN 37189
Associate Biosafe Systems James Atkins 22 Meadow Street East Hartford, CT 06108
Affiliate Amy Dismukes TSU Nursery Research Center 472 Cadillac Lane McMinnville, TN 37110
Upcoming Events
June 25
Tennessee Green Industry Field Day University of TN Gardens Knoxville, TN
July 13 – 16
July 28 – August 2
Cultivate ‘19 Columbus, OH
July 15 – 1 7
NALP Legislative Days on the Hill Washington, D.C.
Perennial Plant Symposium Hilton North Raleigh Midtown Raleigh, NC
September 12 – 13 Tennessee Green Industry Expo Wilson County Exposition Center Lebanon, TN
Index of Advertisers
Boshancee Nursery, Inc..............................................15 www.boshanceensy.com Braun Horticulture Inc................................................13 www.braungroup.com Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc................................15 www.camtoocamellia.com Coosa Valley Turf Farms..............................................5 www.coosavalleyturffarms.com D & D Agri.....................................................................15 Fairview Evergreen Nurseries......................................3 www.fairviewevergreen.com Hidden Valley Nursery, LLC.........................................7 www.hiddenvalleynursery.com John Holmlund Nursery..............................................18 www.jhnsy.com Leading Edge Communications................................13 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com Low Falls Wholsale Nursery......................................13 www.lowfallsnursery.com McHutchison, Inc...........................................................8 www.mchutchison.com Mid Tenn Turf.................................................................9 www.midtennturf.com Motz & Son Nursery......................................................7 Neely Coble Co................................Inside Front Cover www.neelycoble.com Richey Nursery Company, LLC..................................15 www.richeynursery.com Smith Seed Services.....................................................5 www.smithseed.com Surface Nursery Inc......................................................3 www.surfacenursery.com Swafford Nursery Inc..................................Back Cover www.swaffordnursery.com Tennessee 811.............................................................13 www.tnonecall.com Thomas Nursery.............................................................7 www.thomasnurserytrees.com Tree Equipment Design, Inc......................................13 www.treeequip.com Wellmaster Carts.............................Inside Back Cover www.wellmaster.ca
Digital Marketplace Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.
Specializing in Container Grown Native Trees & Shrubs From Plug to 7 Gal. For information, go to www.ThomasNurseryTrees.com or call 931-808-4141
tennessee greentimes Spring 2019
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Industry News
Congratulations to the 2018 Graduates of the
Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program!
Congratulations to the
2018 Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program Graduates! Mark Burch, Riverdale Nursery Andy Estes Olivia Flanders, Botanico, Inc. Terry Gallagher, Heather Farms Nursery, Inc.
By Amy Fulcher, Extension Specialist and Associate Professor for Sustainable Ornamental Plant Production and Landscape Management
Mack Harney, Harney’s Nursery Danny Hildreth, Hildreth-Brothers Nursery
The
Tennessee Master Nursery Producer (TMNP) Program is a professional development program for nursery crop producers that is led by the University of Tennessee with support from TSU and the USDA. It is the first program of its kind in the nation and was designed to provide Tennessee nursery producers with up-to-date scientifically based information in order to enhance their profitability and environmental, economic, and community sustainability. During 2018, growers from throughout the state logged in from their homes or offices to access the latest information on container and field production, irrigation,
Willis Jepson, fertilization, substrates, pruning, propagation, integrated pest management, economics, and marketing. Growers who successfully complete the TMNP are rewarded! Graduates have been eligible for 50% cost share on Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program grants rather than the standard 35%. In addition, since the launch of the online program in 2014, graduates reported an estimated value of $11,149 per graduate from applying practices learned in the program that, in turn, reduce costs and/or increase crop quality. The TMNP program is possible due to support from a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant administered by the TDA.
Jepson Family Farm Partnership
Steve Jones, Greenwood Nursery, Inc. Terry Panter, Terry Panter Nursery William Pearson Danny Pirtle, Pirtle Nursery * Scott Rubley, Rubley’s Nursery Marsha Scott, Hidden Valley Nursery, LLC
Michael Smith, Hardin County Growers
Tim Wanamaker, Wanamaker Nursery * Danny Pirtle was inadvertently omitted from the 2016 graduate article.
If you have questions about the Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program, please contact:
Don Blocker
Sales Representative Louisville, KY C: 502-681-8073 F: 866-521-8353
New Basewell Rooted Cutting Technology
dblocker@mchutchison.com mchutchison.com
Dr. Amy Fulcher afulcher@utk.edu 865-974-7152 Please check our website www.tnmasternursery.com for updates and detailed information about the online program topics, cost, etc. For questions about applying for or becoming eligible for TAEP or other TAEP questions, please contact: Mr. Boyd Barker producer.diversification@tn.gov 615-837-5136
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TNLA Office Gets a New Logo!!
In
an effort to promote our organization and update the appearance of the TNLA headquarters, the TNLA board decided in May of 2018 to commission a painted logo on the side of the TNLA office. Shortly thereafter, TNLA director Louree Walker saw Steve Davis, a local artist, painting a mural on a bank in downtown McMinnville. She took a photo of the painting and sent it to the board asking if this was what they had envisioned. The board was unanimous. This was the type of mural the building needed. Louree contacted Steve and he came by the office, looked at the building and said he would do a rendering and get back with a quote which was accepted and commissioned. From September to November, Steve worked on the outside at his leisure (since he is retired) and painted the beautiful TNLA logo to depict the industry.
Daily Regional DeliveRy Tennessee Kentucky
The T contains dogwood blooms to represent one of the top sellers of nursery plants in Tennessee. The N contains fields of nursery stock and shows the rolling hills of Tennessee. The L has a house with a beautiful landscaped yard. The A contains the state flower… an iris. And of course, we had to include “since 1905”. What a great heritage! The TNLA office now showcases the industry on the building facing Sparta Street (a high traffic area of downtown McMinnville). If you haven’t seen the building, take a drive downtown and see it for yourself. While you are at it, step inside and let us know if there is anything we can do for you. C
The Southeast’s
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tennessee greentimes Spring 2019
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Cover Story
Water-Sensitive Landscaping a Growing Opportunity By Andrea Ludwig, Associate Professor of Ecological Engineering and Extension Specialist, University of Tennessee Department of Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science, Dennis Gregg, Extension Associate, University of Tennessee Extension and Natalie Landry, Project Manager, Knox County Stormwater
W
hile in some seasons it is difficult to recall, Tennessee is a wet state, with average annual rainfall from 48 inches to over 70 inches in places, which is well above the national average of 30 inches. These conditions present challenges for landscape managers and developers. Two forces are creating a market for landscaping solutions that address rainwater run-off from developed land, also called “stormwater”. The first is a growing awareness that unmanaged stormwater has damaging impacts on natural resources. To address this, new regulations developed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation are enforced by local governments seeking to capture pollutants carried by stormwater before they end up in streams and to reduce flooding of streets and lowlying areas. In response to these new rules, proactive municipalities and community groups have encouraged landscaping solutions that use plants and improved soil to soak in water where appropriate, rather than traditional reliance on pipes and concrete drainage channels that contribute to flooding. Rain gardens and vegetated swales are two commonly used landscaping features that add visual interest to a property while providing a valuable function and addressing natural resource needs. Second, growing consumer interest in sustainability is touching all market sectors; from buildings and appliances to the clothes we wear and the food we eat. By definition, something that is sustainable keeps its value and quality while avoiding depletion of resources. It is no surprise then that sustainability is a marketable quality within landscape design and management. In this year’s American Society of Landscape Architects survey of over 850 disciplinary professionals, participants reported a high consumer demand for sustainability. Eight out of the top ten “hot topics” in landscape design currently have a sustainability or conservation element. Rain gardens, reduced lawn area, native plants, and adapted drought-tolerant plants all made the list and each of these are elements of a sustainable developed landscape. The University of Tennessee is partnering with local governments and the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association to assist landscapers in helping their clients by creating beautiful, functional home landscapes that integrate water-sensitive landscaping. Educational resources and training are available for
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landscape professionals and will inform how to develop skills in landscape design and installation using natural water features or stormwater flows. This series will focus on how to effectively integrate water-sensitive sustainable landscaping elements (including rain gardens, water gardens (Figure 1), and streamside plantings) into residential and commercial landscaping. The goal is to create landscape features that please the customer and address environmental needs while also meeting regulatory expectations. Rain gardens and water gardens both use rainwater runoff to nurture a specially selected plant palette. Streamside plantings (or buffers) create a natural transition from the water’s edge into the yard or commercial space. Such buffers also provide an important stabilizing function for the streambank itself. Integrating these features into a landscape will lead to new opportunities for plant selection and less maintenance across time. In practice, sustainable landscaping reflects a functional natural environment by creating a resilient and healthy landscape. When planted correctly, plant species that are adapted to local soil and climate conditions will have the best long-term success, so choosing regionally native plants is a basic concept. Plants that can tolerate saturated soils, or short periods of flooding, represent a special subset of native plants and many of these species may be less familiar to many landscapers. See the list of “Plants that Work” for more details. Implementing these best practice approaches may mark a transition from traditional drainage strategies, which were aimed to avoid such saturated soil conditions. The stimulus to make this change, however, stems from our learning that over-reliance on traditional drainage techniques can have undesirable consequences, especially in urbanized areas. Quickly moving an excess of stormwater from the land into streams has three immediate negative impacts. First, any pollutants on the surface end up in the stream and negatively impact stream health; first locally, and then regionally. Second, this rapid increase in runoff water reaching the stream is like discharging a fire hose in the stream channel: these channels erode both down and sideways while trying to contain the new higher volumes, with the subsequent channel damage requiring expensive stabilization efforts to
Figure 1 A 30 ft by 40 ft water garden at the University of Tennessee Gardens (Knoxville, Tennessee) flourishes with color in late summer, attracts beneficial insects and is the birth place of scores of tree frogs each year. Pictured here are rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. lasiocarpos), Lizard’s Tail (Saururus cernuus), Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), and Pickerelweed (Pondetaria cordata).
Figure 2 A leaf litter and aged hardwood chip compost amendment was incorporated into this rain garden bed in Knox County using a Harley rake to loosen compacted soils and boost plant growth.
tennessee greentimes Spring 2019
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Cover Story Continued protect neighboring properties. Finally, (and this third consequence sometimes surprises people) a rapid-draining landscape system generally results in both lower stream levels and greater localized need for increased irrigation. This occurs because the stormwater was moved away so quickly, that the soils failed to have time to capture the rain: it simply couldn’t soak in to benefit the local plant life and environment. To reap all the benefits of a functionally sustainable landscape, the way in which water moves through the landscape (or hydrology) needs to be returned to balance. The new training opportunities that are being shared will cover practical aspects of how to address challenges like soil compaction and drainage issues in residential landscapes, as in the rain garden project at Lakemoor Hills neighborhood in Knoxville (depicted in Figure 2).
In a wet state with average annual rainfall that is often well above the national 30-inch average, managing Tennessee’s stormwater runoff as a resource in our landscaping can create both unique landscape features and provide opportunities for plants not often used. As we experience an increase in extreme weather conditions (that include intense downpours, extended dry conditions or drought, etc.), having resilient landscapes is even more important. Embracing landscaping with water is a way to meet this growing demand. The 2019 training course schedule is under development and will be posted at https://ag.tennessee.edu/watersheds/Pages/ default.aspx. For more information, contact Dr. Andrea Ludwig, Associate Professor of Ecological Engineering and Extension Specialist with the University of Tennessee Department of Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science (aludwig@utk.edu).
Plants that Work
Photo 1
Photo 2
Ninebark ‘Ruby Spice’ 1
American Elderberry 2
These US native plants pull double-duty in the landscape, providing both visual interest and added functions that keep our landscapes naturally resilient and rejuvenated. Use these plants along creek banks and drainages, in waterlogged areas near gutter downspouts, in rain gardens, or in water gardens. Hold Strong – These shrubs are adapted to streambanks, where they experience wet and dry soil conditions and help hold the bank in place with their strong root structures. All may be pruned in late spring to maintain desired shape and spread. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) Photo 1 – Growing 5–8 feet tall, this upright, spreading, deciduous shrub provides small pink or white flower clusters from May to June and has exfoliating bark that provides winter interest. It grows in full sun to part shade and can take harsh conditions. Cultivars of note include ‘Ruby Spice’, which only grows to 3–5 feet with red spring foliage, and ‘Diabolo’, with purple foliage.
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Photo 3
Photo 4
Witchazel 2
Sweet Pepperbush 3
American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) Photo 2 – Growing 5–12 feet tall, this suckering, deciduous shrub flowers in white clusters from June to July and bears black berries in late summer that are attractive to birds. Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Photo 3 – Growing 15– 20 feet tall, this deciduous shrub or small tree bears clusters of fragrant bright yellow flowers at the stem at a unique time, from October to December, and leaves turn a showy yellow in fall. Soak In – These plants can tolerate periods of saturated soils and are ideal for downspout rain gardens or areas that collect water when it rains. Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) Photo 4 – Best in the center/wettest part of a rain garden, this small, compact shrub grows 3–8 feet tall and produces fragrant, white panicled flowers in mid to late summer, attracting butterflies and bees.
George Stoudenmire Office: 803-826-6464 Cell: 803-837-1820 Fax: 803-826-6465
Trey Shirer Cell: 803-707-2262
Blogs
email: lowfallsnursery@windstream.net 28 Boxwood Trail Lone Star, SC 29030 Increase your social media awareness and grow your business in all the right circles.
RED BOSS SPADES* TREE BOSS
info@redbosstreespades.com
TREE PLANTERS * TREE TIERS
www.redbosstreespades.com
Leading Edge Communications info@LeadingEdgeCommunications.com 615.790.3718
Proudly made in USA #570-386-3515 tennessee greentimes Spring 2019
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Cover Story Continued Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) Photo 5 – Best along the outer edge of rain gardens, this loose, widelybranched deciduous shrub grows 3–6 feet tall and bears tiny white flowers in flattened clusters from May to July. Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) Photo 6 – This dense, suckering deciduous shrub grows 2–5 feet tall, has pinkish white flowers from June to July, and produces clusters of round coral-red berries in fall that persist throughout winter. Inkberry (Ilex glabra) Photo 7 – This upright-rounded, broadleaf evergreen shrub grows 5–8 feet tall, tolerates shade and wet soils, and females produce black berries if pollinated, attracting birds and providing winter interest. Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) Photo 8 – This perennial is on the Federal Endangered Species List within its native habitat yet is now commercially available from licensed growers. It grows 1.5–2 feet tall and blooms purple with an orange center cone from June to August, attracting birds and butterflies. New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) Photo 9 – This perennial grows 3-6 feet tall and has deep pinkish purple flowers from August to September borne on stout, upright stems. Flowers, which attract butterflies and native bees, may set abundant seed that are self-sown around plantings. Cherokee Sedge (Carex cherokeensis) Photo 10 – This spreading, clump form sedge grows up to one foot tall, sends up wheat-like seed spikes in the fall, and thrives in moist soils. Indian woodoats (Chasmanthium latifolium) Photo 11 – Also called River Oats, this clump-forming ornamental grass grows 2–5 feet tall in full sun to part shade, is tolerant of poor soils, and has an interesting drooping seed head that flutters in the breeze. Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) Photo 12 – This southeast native fern can tolerate heavy shade and wet soils, grows to be 2–3 feet tall or taller with constant moisture, and produces “fiddleheads” from its base that persist through summer and turn yellow in fall. Filter Out – These wetland plants bring a splash of color to water gardens while also filtering out toxins and pollution from rainwater runoff. Rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. lasiocarpos) Photo 13 – Best along the edge of a water garden, this vigorous, woody perennial grows 3–7 feet tall sporting white or pink flowers from July to October. Blue Flag (Iris versicolor) and Copper (Iris fulva) Irises Photo 14 – These clump-forming perennials grow 1.5–2.5 feet tall, will spread with rhizomes along the edge of a water garden, and offer purple and coppery pink flowers from May to June. Broadleaf/Common Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) Photo 15 – This perennial grows 1–4 feet tall, spreads through tubers, and is noted for its arrowhead-shaped leaves and whorls of threepetaled, white flowers. C
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Photo 5
Photo 6
Smooth Hydrangea
4
Photo 6: Coralberry 4
Photo 8
Photo 9
Tennessee Coneflower
Photo 11
New England Aster 3
Photo 12
Indian woodoats Photo 14 Blue Flag Iris
3
2
Cinnamon Fern 5 Photo 15
2
Arrowhead 4
Photo 7 Photo 7: Inkberry 4
Photo 10 Cherokee Sedge 3
Photo 13 Rosemallow 2 Photo Credits: 1
William Klingeman,
The University of Tennessee
2
William Morgan,
Obed Watershed Community Association
3
Sam Rogers,
D & D AGRI
AGRIBUSINESS PROTECTION SPECIALIST
Chisholm Downs 1993 H wy . 31 S outH A tHenS , A lAbAmA 35611 e mAil : cdownS @ pclnet . net
c ell (256) 230-5677 H ome (256) 232-8184
The University of Tennessee
4
Andrea Ludwig,
The University of Tennessee
5
Dennis Gregg,
The University of Tennessee
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Feature Story
Doing (and Receiving)
Good Work Green Industry Employment Can Provide Opportunities for Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities By Derrick Stowell, UT Gardens Education Director
P
eople who have intellectual, or cognitive, disabilities live full and productive lives. These individuals want to be active in their communities and seek opportunities for meaningful employment. Although there have been improvements in employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, challenges still remain. A 2016 report on Disability Statistics from the American Community Survey (ACS) found that 31.4% of Tennessee’s working age population who have disabilities live at or below the poverty line, and 28.1% of that group had a cognitive disability (Erikson et al. 2017). The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) defines an intellectual disability as “characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior. This disability originates before the age of 18.� In 1992, a study by Davis and De Riso identified horticulture as one of the industries that has been identified as a rewarding career for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Individuals with intellectual disabilities working in green industry settings have a long history in the United States. In 1879 the first greenhouse for therapeutic use was built in Pennsylvania, and since that time, numerous other programs have trained and hired individuals with disabilities (see the Related Resources sidebar, page 18). One well-known organization serving individuals with
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1 Many horticultural job tasks provide necessary structure for an intellectually disabled workforce.
disability by training them for jobs in the horticulture industry is Melwood, located in Maryland. Melwood (www.melwood.org) began its horticultural therapy program in 1963 and pioneering member Earl Copas developed a program manual for horticultural training and work co-op programs in 1980. This manual is still used today for many horticultural therapy programs. Today, the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) serves as the national professional organization for horticultural therapy and sets the standards of practice for horticultural therapy programs around the country. AHTA also has a professional registration program to ensure horticultural therapists have the credentials to practice through structured training and clinical experience. Currently there are over 40 programs in the United States which work with individuals in the green industry who have intellectual and development disabilities. These programs have a variety of goals for people with intellectual disabilities including: providing vocational training, developing social skills, providing job opportunities, contracting greenhouse/nursery/horticulture work, and providing opportunities to have meaningful paid work in the community. Working with individuals with intellectual disabilities can provide several opportunities for green industry employers. First, individuals with intellectual disabilities thrive in structured environments and green industry work can provide opportunities
2 Specialized training can provide dedicated employees with job-specific skills.
3 Pride in performance and accomplishment enhances employee loyalty.
that accomplish clearly delineated job tasks (Photo 1). Second, individuals with intellectual disabilities desire to be included in the community and a paid job is one way for them to contribute locally. Third, individuals with intellectual disabilities can provide a consistent and reliable work force for the green industry. In order to help individuals with intellectual disabilities to have successful employment experiences in the green industry, specialized training may be necessary (Photo 2). The University of Tennessee Gardens began developing horticultural therapy programs in 2012. Since that time we have served a variety of groups. Some of the vocational training programs we have developed include working with adults who have Autism and developing a horticultural and greenhouse management training program for local high school special education programs. We have also offered internship and vocational training in horticulture for students who are enrolled in the University of Tennessee’s FUTURE program. FUTURE is a post-secondary education program for young adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Students attend the University of Tennessee and take classes based on their interests and career goals. An integral part of that program is giving students in the program internships. Our horticultural therapy staff help develop and implement sessions to give FUTURE students real world experience in a public garden and greenhouse setting.
Another vocational training program we currently offer is through a partnership with Tennessee School for the Deaf (TSD). During the fall and spring semesters, we provide weekly horticulture training sessions for TSD students. As each semester progresses, students from TSD show improved ability to perform horticultural tasks such as sowing seeds, transplanting, weeding, watering, and much more. This program also provides transferable vocational skills such as communicating with program staff, staying on task and following directions. With adequate training, it has been shown that individuals with intellectual disabilities have potential to be valuable workers in the green industry (Photo 3). The need for specialized training may be a challenge for some businesses. UT Gardens currently offers consulting and training to develop and implement training programs for organizations interested in hiring individuals with intellectual disabilities. The benefits of employing individuals with intellectual disabilities include a consistent, reliable, and loyal workforce that works well in a structured environment (Photo 3).
For more information about these and other opportunities, contact Mr. Derrick Stowell, MS, CTRS, HTR, UT Gardens Education Director, email: dstowell@utk.edu; 865-974-7151.
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Feature Story Continued
Related Resources For more information about Horticultural Therapy and Specialized Training for the Green Industry, visit these links and reports:
Airhart, D. L. (1987). Horticultural Training for Adolescent Special Education Students. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture 2, 17–22. Ashley Jr, I. E. (1969). Analysis of opportunities for paraplegics in certain ornamental horticulture occupations (Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). Davis, S. H. and De Riso, M. S. (1992). Horticulture hiring people with disabilities. HortTechnology 2(2): 183–187. DeHart-Bennett, M. E., & Relf, D. (1990). Horticultural occupations for persons with intellectual disabilities. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 37(3), 143–146.
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Copus, E. (1980). The Melwood Manual: A Planning and Operations Manual for Horticultural Training and Work-op Programs. Washington, DC: Administration of Developmental Disabilities (DHHS). https://files.eric. ed.gov/fulltext/ED200793.pdf Erickson, W., Lee, C., von Schrader, S. (2017). Disability Statistics from the American Community Survey (ACS). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Yang-Tan Institute (YTI). Retrieved from Cornell University Disability Statistics website: http://www.disabilitystatistics.org Hefley, P. D. (1973). Planting new seeds. Performance 23(8), 8–10. Relf, P. D. (1981). The use of horticulture in vocational rehabilitation. Journal of Rehabilitation 47(3), 53–56. Wadsworth, J., Milsom, A., and Cocco, K. (2004). Career development for adolescents and young adults with mental retardation. Professional School Counseling 141–147. C
