Wellfleet Public Library

Vulnerable populations, such as the neurodiverse or physically challenged, are at an elevated risk of suffering from isolation and stress-related illnesses. Gardening is a good answer, as it has been proven to be especially beneficial to physical, cognitive and emotional health. Nurturing Nature: A Guide to Gardening or Special Needs shows how the uninitiated can begin gardening: from the smallest pot of flowers to a large, flourishing plot of land. Author Jill Mays outlines why gardening is critical to everyone's health and provides step- by-step instructions on how to go about creating a garden. Specific activities, ways to adapt tasks to accommodate special needs, and benefits gained from the activities are reviewed. Finally, recent findings on the health benefits of gardening are reviewed. Nurturing Nature gives you all the information and resources you need to get started!

Jill Mays is the author of Your Child's Motor Development Story, which explains the critical importance of sensory exploration and natural play for healthy development. An occupational therapist specializing in sensory integration for many years, she has conducted workshops in a variety of settings and provided consultation to parents, educators and health care providers. For the past ten years she has immersed herself in gardening, working with farmers and assisting in the development of children's garden programs. She developed and currently leads a garden group for special needs adults. Mays lives with her husband, Eric, dog and a flock of chickens at the far end of Cape Cod.