Horticultural Therapy in Prison Populations

Horticultural therapy (HT) is best defined as the use of plants and plant-based activities with a goal of rehabilitation and healing oneself (Rutgers, n.d.). While the benefits have been known for decades through research with war veterans and elderly people in nursing homes, recent studies have been exploring the assets it can provide for prison populations. Prisons in the US are notorious for their bad conditions, including shortages of mental health treatment, high costs, and lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables for the inmates. If such a thing exists that can provide a solution for all of these problems, then it should be implemented. While the full extent is not known, HT programs have been shown as a potential answer. HT programs have been shown to benefit the mental health of those in prison by decreasing depression and anxiety, as well as promoting openness and a nonjudgmental setting by using plants as a common ground (Lee, 2021; Jiler, 2006; Devine-Wright et al., 2019; Richards & Kafami, 2019). Additionally, to negate any issues in regard to budgeting, HT programs have been shown to be cost effective and pay for themselves within a few years (Jiler, 2006; Holmes & Walkiczek, 2019; Devine-Wright et al., 2019). Lastly, these programs are able to give inmates access to healthy fruits and vegetables that can improve both their mental and physical health (Devine-Wright et al., 2019; Jiler, 2006). Since these benefits have been found with the limited studies that have been done, more effort needs to go into exploring the full benefits of HT programs in prisons and should be implemented more frequently across the US