Guelph - The 2009 CHTA conference, "Good for the Soil, Good for the Soul", highlights ways in which horticultural therapy (HT) and therapeutic horticulture (TH) nurture both the earth and ourselves. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about organic gardening techniques and to dig deeply into the connections with nature that make HT and TH programs so effective.

The CHTA is delighted to welcome Marjorie Harris as the keynote speaker on Saturday, September 19th. One of Canada's best known garden writers, Marjorie has written 15 gardening books, including The Healing Garden and Pocket Gardening. Her latest book is a reissue of Ecological Gardening: Your Path to a Healthy Garden.

An organic gardener and self-confessed mad composter, Marjorie will speak about the beauties of ecological gardening: putting together a garden that will work both as a refuge for wildlife and as a magnificent place to spend time.

She believes that "we are the stewards of this planet and by making good gardens and practising good garden techniques we can leave it just a little better than we found it."

On the pre-conference day, Friday, September 18, early-bird attendees have the opportunity to tour horticultural therapy and enabling gardens in the Guelph area.

Conference events on Saturday and Sunday include workshops on organic gardening techniques and presentations by experienced horticultural therapists on topics such as nurturing ourselves through nature, a guide to starting and maintaining a HT organization, HT with children and youth, and HT for those living with chronic pain.

Presenters include:

Margaret Nevett, HTR, who will demonstrate how to develop a healthy soil with tips on how to analyze soil and interpret the results. Kerry Hackett, a respected herbalist, whose presentation "Wonderful Weeds" reveals the true potential of weeds as a source of nutrition and herbal remedies. Philip Spring, HTT, who will provide a video tour of the HT gardens at Sunnybrook Health Centre and explore the potential of using sound sculptures with colours of flowers to effect harmonic healing.

The site of the CHTA conference, the Ignatius Jesuit Centre, located 2 km north of Guelph, Ontario, is a place of great natural beauty and inspiration. It includes the Ignatius Farm, over 300 acres of certified organic agricultural land. The property is also home to a conference facility, spiritual retreat centre and a variety of hiking trails. The Centre is accessible by car, bike, or bus from downtown Guelph.

The CHTA Conference offers information and inspiration both to newcomers to horticultural therapy and to seasoned practitioners who wish to explore the connections between people, plants, and nature. Unearth your senses of humus and join us in Guelph, September 18 – 20.

To download a conference brochure and registration form, please visit the CHTA website at www.chta.ca. September 18-20 at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre, Guelph, Ontario