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LIFE BEYOND THE MILITARY – OUTDOORS
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Now the flowers are fading we’ve been engaged in therapeutic activities of seed saving.

September 30, 2023

Autumn has arrived. The flowers are fading. The birds are enjoying the sunflower seed heads and we have kept a few for seed saving. The pumpkins and gourds are growing ready for harvesting and carving. The chillies are fruiting ready to thread and dry, the onion and garlic are ready for braiding and hanging ready for our next farm shop. The heating in the greenhouse has been on for the first time in several months and we are starting to cut back and remove plants from the raised beds.

Seed saving:

The process of saving seeds from edible and ornamental plants always offers a variety of therapeutic activities in which to engage patients:

Physically:  removing individual seed by hand such as sunflowers, cutting dead flower heads off with secateurs to empty the seed into paper bags like poppies, or breaking open the seed pod to remove and collect like marigold. Or macerating seed such as tomatoes.  All provide an opportunity to practice manual dexterity and fine motor skills.

Cognitively:  following instruction, correct sequencing, cutting accurately and judging quantities can all be incorporated into seed saving activities.

Psychologically: an opportunity to spend time outdoors in Nature and become absorbed in the finer details of foraging for seed can be mindful activities in which to engage to support mental health and well-being.

Recreationally: learning about different ways of saving seed, different seed types, which plants they come from and how to propagate in the future can enable development of new skills.

Creatively: Using dried flowers and seed heads decoratively for seasonal crafts and dried flower arrangements or making your own seed packets enables creative expression.

Any seeds saved can be stored to start again next year……

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Jane

HG adheres to the latest government and unit policy in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Chillies in greenhouse.

Sunflower seed heads.

Sunflower head for the birds.

Pumpkins.