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LIFE BEYOND THE MILITARY – OUTDOORS
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Patients have enjoyed a busy September, from sowing vegetable crops to building a chicken coop.

September 30, 2020

As September draws to a close, we have enough produce grown by our patients to host our first Farm Shop for quite some time. We are planning this for early October and have herbs, chilli strings, succulents, and mini bug hotels up for grabs. All to be delivered following COVID-secure precautions as we continue to adjust to these new ways of working.

Our pumpkins are growing nicely ready for Halloween, and hopefully another Farm Shop in November. The rainbow chard is providing decent colour together with the fruiting chillies and bulbs ready for planting, looking forward to lighter and brighter days ahead.

Force Generation

New Force Gen courses have resumed which has meant an increase in referrals to our service, but adjusted ways of working mean we see patients for shorter periods of time and so a shorter time to make an impact. We hope to at least introduce the subject of Horticulture and a taster of the different ways it can be helpful to support rehabilitation.

Neuro Group

The weekly Neuro group continues as it did throughout lockdown. One project has been to put together the chicken coop which has been a good task for fine motor skills, dexterity and using upper limbs bilaterally. It also is a good test of cognitive skills to work out how best to fit the different pieces together, follow instructions, recall information and problem-solve.

Complex Trauma

September has been a good month to learn about vegetable crops to overwinter. We have been sowing onions sets, garlic and broad beans in preparation. Saving tomato seeds, dead heading roses, weeding and thinning out chard seedlings provided a range of activities to work on hand function in particular pinch grip. Although challenging at times this was an opportunity to use a functional task to progress physical rehabilitation.

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Jane

 

Pumpkins are growing nicely for Halloween.

Making mini bug hotels to sell at October's farm shop.

Patient putting together shelving unit.

Deadheading roses works on hand function for Complex Trauma patients.

Construction of the chicken coop by the Neuro group is making good progress.