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

people-plant council newsletter - summer 1997

Documents