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To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body , but the soul .
Alfred Austin
CHTN History
Prior to CHTN's formation, horticultural therapists in North and South Carolina were a part of the Carolinas Chapter of the American Horticultural Therapy Association (CCAHTA). This organization was formed in 1998 to bring together Carolinians who understood the role that plants and gardening play in improving quality of life, especially for those who are physically, emotionally or intellectually challenged.
In 2008, at the annual meeting of the CCAHTA, the membership voted to disband as a result of new requirements for AHTA chapters.
In 2011, the AHTA had its annual conference in Asheville, NC. That gathering had many attendees from NC and SC, and a meeting was held to discuss how to begin a Carolinas networking group again. The Carolinas Horticultural Therapy Network (CHTN) began as an unstructured group in the fall of 2012 with its first meeting at NCBG in Chapel Hill.
In 2022, CHTN officially formed, and established a 501(c)6 to ensure the sustainability of promoting horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture in the Carolinas.
Why a Pinecone?
The stylized pine cone in our logo was inspired by the wonderful pine species found throughout North
and South Carolina. Pine ecosystems are extraordinarily diverse, much like our profession. These trees are keystone species in their environments - a backbone of an ecological network that makes thriving possible for other organisms.
Our vision is that CHTN is the supportive structure that brings together and offers benefits for the many people who practice, study, and advocate for HT/TH.
The pine cone is a poignant symbol of our work and the people we serve. All that we need to grow and to achieve our fullest potential is within. A pine cone's scales protect its seeds, its potential. The scales open and close with the weather, releasing the life within when conditions are right for them to germinate. Those tiny seeds take hold, establish strong roots, and rise above adversity to become all that they can be.
Pines are adaptable, diverse and support life for many other species which make them an especially apt metaphor for CHTN and our membership.
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