“The success of this project is that everyone has a valuable part to play. These gardens are being built by the community for the community. They are owned by the community and valued by the community. The aim is to celebrate everyone involved every step of the way. Life is about celebrating the little things which, when gathered together, become the most valuable things – they are the essence of what creates shared happiness.” – Natasha Donnelly, PhD.
TFTC Gardens stands for
- T=Trauma informed,
- F= Focused on resiliency strategies,
- T= Therapeutic,
- C= community engagement, healthy conversations
- Gardens = sensory planting
Trauma Focused Therapeutic Community Gardens© – (TFTC Gardens), are outdoor architectural spaces designed for trauma-informed recovery of at-risk populations. These spaces create ways of connecting with others and for vocational training. By forming this organization, we are ensuring this concept remains in the public domain for community access and affordable use, with prior research always acknowledged while maintaining an ethical and transparent use of public funds.
These gardens will include sensory zones, plantings for education and reconnecting with nature – including where food comes from; outdoor classrooms, active art areas, pacing pathways, and poetry reading/yoga spaces.
Our Mission
Our mission is for this multipurpose trauma-informed outdoor architectural spaces to be built in youth centers across North Carolina and beyond.
Our History
Our Founder and President, Natasha Donnelly, PhD, is passionate about designing initiatives to promote Trauma-Focused care and has been involved in therapeutic designs of indoor and outdoor spaces since 2004. In 2014, Natasha began researching the concept of Trauma-Focused Sensory Gardens and in 2016 took the idea to Juvenile Justice! In 2017, Natasha approached NC State University and was directed to Anne Spafford and her students. They joined the project to add horticultural expertise to North Carolina’s first Trauma-Focused Therapeutic Garden for Juvenile Justice settings.
View a brochure about a previous project planned with Chatham Youth Detention Center and our current project with Cumberland Youth Detention Center – Restorative Lifestyle Gardens Brochure.
In 2019, a committee was formed to create an inclusive environment to bring trauma-focused therapeutic community gardens to at-risk youth and communities around the world. This committee has filed with the state of North Carolina to become a non-profit organization known as TFTC (Trauma Focused Therapeutic Community) Gardens. Juvenile Justice has also moved forward with submitting bids to complete the first phase of their garden at Cumberland Juvenile Detention Center in Fayetteville, NC.
Become a Supporter or Sponsor
Join us as we work together to create an exciting positive social change. Be a part of our trauma-focused therapeutic community gardens© becoming a reality.
TFTC Gardens© 