Gardening Therapy
Tainan is very crowded, very urban, and almost totally paved over. There are trees and parks, but few people work with the soil other than in flower pots.
A few years ago Tainan Theological College gave several people from the neighborhood the freedom to garden on the campus. Flowers now blossom all around us. One team, led by a retired pastor, has taken charge of a piece of land where the founder’s once stood, and has turned it into a beautiful display of colors.
One member of that team is a student, about whom I learned in a meeting late in May. It seems that this guy had a variety of problems last year (while I was on sabbatical) and so this year was assigned a work-study job with the flower planting volunteers. The report is that his attitude has changed, he gets along better with people, and has focus that he previously lacked. That could be because the retired pastor has done informal pastoral care, or it could be entirely unrelated. But, “gardening therapy” seems to have become a possibility around here.
I am visiting Taiwan with 6 students from Provo Utah that are studing Chinese in high school. We are here for three weeks attending classes with the students and touring the area.
I love gardening. I have enjoyed watching and visiing the area to see gardens and beautiful plants and flowers. I love the fountains and gardens in the parks, museums and cultural centers.
The small gardens in pots has been impressive. I love the fish in small ponds/pots with water lillies. The shops all try to have potted plants. While eating and walking through the night malls it is wonderful to see the potted gardens and flowers.
At the high school we are attending the students have the opportunity for service and caring for the yards and flower aras. The students express joy and satisfaction in working. I know that I love playng in the dirt as well as potting. I love Bonasi and working in my green house at home. Transplanting new plants into my garden.
Taiwan is beautiful with the gardens along the highways and railways.
I appreciate your website and veiwing your comments.
Thanks for stopping by Lynn. Hope the kids are loving it and learning a lot.