Aprendendo com as diferenças: Hortoterapia como ferramenta de inclusão social de alunos da Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Excepcionais (APAE)

Abstract

The cultivation of vegetables can be used as psychosocial therapy, since it allows contact with nature, reduces anxiety, provides relaxation, increases self-esteem, rescues popular knowledge about food cultivation, in addition to promoting social inclusion. The Social Inclusion - Learning from Differences project aimed to provide teaching and practice in growing vegetables to users of the Association of Parents and Friends of the Exceptional (APAE) based on activities developed within the Horticulture Sector at the Federal University of Lavras in Minas Gerais. During the eight weeks of the project's development, different activities were carried out, such as the production of seedlings in trays, thinning, transplanting of seedlings in beds and pots, preparation of substrate for the production of seedlings, irrigation of crops in the field, fertilization of crops, spraying with homemade natural pesticides, management of invasive plants by manual weeding and with hoe, harvest and post-harvest management. For the evaluation of the project, a questionnaire was applied by those responsible. The activities taught students various common agricultural practices in the production of vegetables, promoted the improvement of concentration and the development of motor activities. Also, encouraged the implementation of home gardens and increased consumption of vegetables, in addition to allowing the inclusion of students within the university.