Medical University of South Carolina Urban Farm provides horticultural therapy, community involvement

The ultimate mission of the farm is “to help people make that connection between their own health and eating healthy.”

By Michael Pham
Charleston City Paper
September 6, 2022

Excerpt:

Ten years ago, a thriving, half-acre urban farm replaced an asphalt parking lot at Bee and President streets. Now, the Medical University of South Carolina Urban Farm continues to thrive despite living through hurricanes, frequent flooding and a recent pandemic.

Noni Langford, who’s been with the urban farm on and off since its 2012 debut, was recently promoted to co-manager, working alongside Robin Smith. The two maintain the property, and Langford provides horticultural therapy, a form of therapy that engages patients in gardening and plant-based activities. The process of harvesting and maintaining various flowers, fruits and vegetables can help patients turn their attention to something else and provide a sense of control through repetitive movements such as digging.

The farm provides opportunities and benefits to the surrounding communities and the hospital’s patients through various workshops, volunteer work, funding, horticultural therapy, outreach efforts and events, said Langdon.

The garden currently grows more than 65 varieties of flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs used for food and sensory therapy. Food products such as chives, okra, mint, basil and more are grown and harvested in the raised beds. Herbs like lavender, according to Langford, can be used for sensory therapy; it’s soft to the touch and a gentle stimulator for those who are prone to overstimulation. Though the garden specializes in plants native to the Southeast like cabbage or okra, Langford said they’re open to planting other non-native fruits for the inclusivity of students and volunteers. For example, one patient requested to plant bittermelon, a fruit popularly grown in Asia, as a reminder of home.

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