Meet Susie Sample, Intern Horticultural Therapist

What drew you to Horticultural Therapy?

I was drawn to the field of gerontology from helping my mom who was living with lewy body dementia. During my coursework at Portland Community College I discovered Horticultural Therapy (HT). Being a lifelong lover of plants and nature I was excited to combine these two passions. I witnessed the value of HT firsthand during an internship at an adult day center when I saw a horticultural therapy session in action. The benefits of HT were apparent and I felt like it was fulfilling a real need.

What populations do you work with?

I work with primarily older adults, many of whom have dementia. All of the adults that I work with have some form of physical or cognitive disability.

What is your favorite part about your work as a HT intern at Earthtones?

My favorite part is sharing nature and plants with people who often do not get other opportunities to engage with the outside world. Sharing these special experiences with people is so wonderful. The spark that people get in their eyes when they are directly engaging with plant material fills me with joy. Being a witness to that moment is truly an honor and I love that I get to increase this type of opportunity for them and can help to fill their basic human need of meaningful activity.