Featured Stories

“You’d be surprised how many areas I designed,” said Andrew, an OSH patient as he proudly described his contribution to the beauty of the hospital grounds.   

Through the OSH Vocational Services program, patients like Andrew have work opportunities ranging from carpentry, food service and landscaping. They learn and build skills that prepare them for life in the community. 

The opportunity for Andrew to be a part of a landscaping crew with other patients involved more than developing skills – like pruning and outdoor space design – but a sense of autonomy and ownership in creating spaces enjoyed by other patients and staff alike. 

In fact, when the crew revamped one of the plazas, the patients made decisions on which plants went where. Each plant was chosen specifically by the patients to be put out there.  

“You can feel the joy that patients have when they are out there and how accomplished they feel by completing these tasks,” said Kate Barnes, an OSH occupational therapist who works closely with the landscaping crew. 

She recalled one patient proudly sharing, “This is my garden.” 

As part of the landscaping crew, patients acquire hard skills such as mowing, weeding, weed eating with a weed whacker and by hand, pruning with manual and electric pruners, general clean up and design of outdoor spaces.  

Patients make decisions about the types of plants they work with and prioritize tasks as they see fit with staff’s guidance.  

The landscaping crew empowers patients to express their individuality through horticulture while working in a team setting to make their visions a reality. 

Teamwork is an important skill used daily among the landscaping crew since many of the required tasks can’t be done alone.  

“Landscaping is a team sport. The top aspects of teamwork are knowing your team, learning how to communicate and talking about what project you’re doing and dividing up the task,” said Jennifer Sanders, an OSH manual arts instructor.  

Tasks are divided based on each patient’s unique abilities. Landscaping can be a physically demanding job, and sometimes, modifications are necessary. Barnes collaborates with patients to adjust tasks and work around any physical limitations they may have. She teaches proper ergonomics and body mechanics to decrease pain and the likelihood of injury.  

Because Sanders has an extensive knowledge in landscaping and gardening, she adjusts most tasks on the spot, further enabling patients to participate in the safest way possible. Her passion for landscaping as an artform and her appreciation for its therapeutic value inspired her to share her knowledge and love for plants with patients.  

Patients’ pride and satisfaction with a job well done is undeniable, especially when others take the time to appreciate their hard work. 

Barnes described a patient whose passion has taken him a step beyond his scheduled work hours. He began filling out a journal of things he noticed during his own time that need to be worked on and brings them up during work hours. Sanders takes his notes into consideration when planning out daily tasks, ensuring patient voices are heard.  

The skills learned as part of the landscaping crew will follow patients as they transition into the community.  

“The landscape program emits real life,” Sanders said, “There’s a practical application. It prepares them for life outside of the hospital because it’s something they can do.” 

Andrew is confident that he will put his skills to good use after OSH. His experiences and knowledge gained in the landscaping crew will stay with him for a long time.  

“I didn’t care for plants before, but I do now,” he said. 

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