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Profs and Pints DC presents: “Where Health and Well-Being Grow,” a primer on how to find or create gardens and landscapes that nurture mind and body, with Naomi A. Sachs, assistant professor of plant science and landscape architecture at the University of Maryland and founding director of the Therapeutic Landscapes Network.
Many of us know intuitively that being outside in nature is good for us. What’s less well-known is that there exists a substantial amount of research on what outdoor settings benefit us in specific ways, and it has given rise to gardens and landscapes designed to be “healing,” “restorative,” or “therapeutic.” Landscape architects are applying it in designing the settings of schools, healthcare facilities, and offices. It is even influencing the planning of cities, and just about anyone can apply such knowledge in planning urban escapes or deciding what to grow in a yard or on their balcony.
Join Naomi Sachs, who researches, teaches, and writes about the physical and psychological benefits of nature on human health and well-being, for a fascinating look at the evidence-based design of outdoor spaces that are especially good for us.
She’ll discuss her own research on access to nature at healthcare facilities and on the importance of nature to vulnerable communities with little green space. She’ll also describe how landscape architects design outdoor spaces to benefit certain populations, such as children or the frail elderly.
Home gardeners will get useful tips on what plants to use and which to avoid, and everyone on hand will learn about sites in the area worth a visit to plan their own yards or gardens or simply to end up feeling much better than they did before. (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.)
Image: Part of the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks in DC’s Georgetown. (Dumbarton Oaks photo.)
