"Vi odlar ju människor också." : En kvalitativ studie om vilken betydelse odlingsverksamheter har för socialt utsatta grupper

Author: Amanda Ljungdahl Title: “We grow people as well.” A qualitative study of the value of horticultural projects for socially vulnerable groups. [Translated title]. Supervisor: David Hoff Assessor: Malinda Andersson The aim of this study was to examine the value of social and therapeutic horticultural projects for socially vulnerable individuals, regarding both how horticultural activities affect their mental health and what meaning the participants put down to the group as a social cohesion. This study is based on interviews with four participants from two different social and therapeutic horticultural projects. The results showed that the projects had made the participants feel healthier. The projects worked as a support for structure in the everyday life, something that also was necessary to keep the horticultural activities in phase with the growing season. This structure was seen as important by the participants. The projects also had a social function, working with the projects helped the participants feel they could deal with everyday struggles and it was also as a means for them to develop their own social skills. The interviewees described what it meant to be able to follow the whole process in the garden, from planning to growing and harvesting, something that had very positive connotations for them. The interviewees also described what it meant for them to learn the theory behind gardening, to have a responsible position and overall to “get the bigger picture.” I relate this to that the participants feel the opposite of alienation in the way their participation in the projects is shaped