Forest Bathing: Health Benefits of Nature

Garden Club of Oak Park & River Forest > Meeting News and Recaps > Forest Bathing: Health Benefits of Nature

November 13, 2019

12:00 PM at the Chaney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois. Free parking is available on the street

Presenter Jane Grillo: Learn what science has now proven but what gardeners have long known, working outside in a garden and walking in nature is beneficial to health.

This month’s speaker works with a variety of garden clubs, schools, church groups in expanding their understanding of nature and the environment. She worked at The Natural Garden and Midwest Ground Covers, both located in St. Charles, Illinois. She has designed and coordinated a handicapped accessible therapy sensory butterfly garden at a therapy facility.

We start the meeting at 12:00 PM with light refreshments including tea and decaffeinated coffee. Members volunteer to set up the centerpieces and refreshments. A short business meeting precedes a one hour garden related presentation at 1:00 PM. The meetings are free and open to the public; guests are always welcome.

Members that would like to volunteer to use their creativity to design and make the centerpieces and set up refreshments should contact Kathy English of the Hospitality Committee, kathryn_english@comcast.net.

Please direct questions and speaker recommendations to Joan Meister, joanmeistr@icloud.com

Jane Grillo November 13, 2019

Jane Grillo

Forest Bathing: Health Benefits of Nature
Presented by Jane Grillo at Oak Park River Forest Garden Club Meeting

Background
“Forest Bathing” was developed in Japan in the ‘80s and has become a component of their preventative healthcare.  An ever growing number of articles and studies are being published about the positive effects that spending time in nature has on one’s health and wellbeing. This interactive presentation will cover a little of the history and benefits of Forest Bathing and then discuss some of the activities you can do to help awaken your senses, be mindful of your surroundings and build a deeper connection with nature while spending time in green spaces, outdoors or in.

A little background on our speaker:

Janie has a BS in Biology from SUNY at Fredonia (1975). She has been employed for over 16 years in the green industry working for plant nurseries located in St. Charles, IL.   Growing up in a family of gardeners, Janie has always enjoyed the beauty of plants.  In 2001, her gardening interests turned to planting for butterflies, pollinators and sensory gardening.   Her experience includes designing/coordinating a handicap-accessible butterfly and sensory garden, raising and tagging monarch butterflies, and speaking to garden centers, clubs, garden and trade shows and a variety of other venues. Janie is in the midst of her practicum to be certified by the Association of Forest and Nature Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT) as a nature/forest therapy guide.  Learn more at www.butterflyjane.com