About Jack Carman

Licensure

• Licensed Landscape Architect – New Jersey # AS 00658
• Professional Planner – New Jersey # LI 05273
• Registered Landscape Architect – Delaware # SI- Orla 231
• Registered Landscape Architect – Pennsylvania # LA – 001403-R
• Registered Landscape Architect – New York #001714-1
• Registered Landscape Architect – Oregon #LA 574
• Certified Landscape Architect – Virginia # AS 001233

Appointments and National Recognitions

• Trustee of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (2000 – 2006)
• Founder/Co-Chair of ASLA Therapeutic Garden Professional Practice Network (1998 – Present)
• Chapter Presidents Council Past-President – ASLA (1997 – 1998)
• Co-Chair of the ASLA/Alzheimer National Therapeutic Garden Program (1999 – 2002)
• New Jersey ASLA Chapter – Past-President (1997)
• Council of Landscape Architects Review Board – Grader and Exam Writer (1997 – Present)
• Senior Citizens… SCUCS (2001 – 2006)
• American Horticultural Therapy Association – Trustee (2005 – Present)
• Medford Township Environmental Commission Chair and Member (1996 – 2000)
• St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church – Property Committee Chair – (1989 – 2008)
• Fellow – American Society of Landscape Architects (2005)
• Faith Presbyterian Church – Property Committee (2009 – Present)
• State Board of Architects – Board Member (2010)

Presentations on Therapeutic Gardens

Landscape and Urban Design For People of All Ages and Abilities
November 13, 2019 – College of Environment + Design,  University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Universal Design and Older Adults
November 7, 2019 – Life Long Montclair Township of Montclair Health & Human Services, Montclair, NJ

A Prescription for Wellness: Combining Good Health and Nature
October 12, 2019 – International Council of Active Aging, Orlando, FL

Healthcare Garden Design Certificate Program
May 16 – 23, 2018 – This eight-day program includes case studies, group projects, field trips, lectures, and instruction from experts from healthcare garden-related professions. Working in multidisciplinary teams that reflect the real world of healthcare garden design, your learning will be reinforced through tours of healthcare facilities in greater Chicago.

International Council for Active Aging
October 13, 2017 — Jack Carman and Elizabeth Diehl will be presenting a session on the incorporating Healing Gardens and how the garden should be designed for the specific user’s needs.

Keynote Address – Therapeutic Landscapes for Older Adults
April 4th, 2017 — Covenant Woods CCRC, Mechanicsville, VA

New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Annual Meeting
March 14th, 2016 — “The Role of Landscape Architects as Healthcare Providers”

Missy Benson, RLA
Carol Krawczyk, RLA
Jack Carman, RLA, FASLA

We, as people, appear to be increasingly disconnected with the natural world as technology occupies more of our time.  One of the roles Landscape Architects can play is to help people reconnect with the natural world around them. The creation of outdoor areas that help people benefit from being in nature can improve their quality of life in many ways: activities such as walks in the park, relaxing in a hospital garden, exploring educational environments and other settings positively impact our lives. This session will provide a series of case studies demonstrating the positive impacts of our involvement with nature. We have created a matrix that illustrates how the various settings are tied to research and the reasons why they help to improve our quality of life.

Environments for Aging Expo & Conference – Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Februarty 17th, 2016 — “Are All Gardens Safe? An Examination of the Dangers of Natural Elements”

Elizabeth Diehl, RLA, HTM, Director of Therapeutic Horticulture at Wilmot Gardens, University of Florida
Jack Carman, FASLA, RLA, President, Design for Generations, LLC
Brian Bainnson, ASLA, PLA, Quatrefoil Inc.

Examine the benefits of water features and plants, including improved mood, stress reduction, and improved health.
Understand the health concerns of water features and plants in various settings and current research on their safe use in public and private settings.
Review current examples and best practices of communities and facilities that have successfully incorporated water features and plants.
Obtain discussion points that describe the benefits and address the concerns of water features and plants with clients.

A Greater Capitol Hill For Long Life at Capital Villages, Washington, DC
December 9th, 2015 — Making Our Community The Best Place in the World to Age. A panel discussion on the design of public spaces for seniors.

International Council of Active Aging annual conference in Orlando, FL
November 18th, 2015 — Presenting two sessions:

• The first session,  “The Importance of exercise in nature for older adults”, is co- presented with Missy Benson. The session will address why maintaining access to the outdoor environment is vitally important for the health and quality of life for older adults.
• The second session ” Garden to Table: Creating memorable culinary experiences through resident involvement”, is co-presented with John Kennedy. The session will focus on developing relationships with culinary staff and residents in the creation of successful dining experiences.

Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Network annual meeting at Medford Leas, NJ
“Community Outreach – Bringing HT to Healthcare Communities”
October 21st, 2015 — Healthcare is evolving and Horticultural Therapy should be a part of these changes. Healthcare settings are incorporating Meditation Gardens to help at-risk youth. Physical Therapy Gardens are being developed to make Acute Care facilities more appealing for potential patients. These and other examples will be presented as part of this session.

American Horticultural Therapy Association annual Conference at the St. Louis Botanic Garden in MO
September 17th, 2015 — Presenting the Plenary Session – “Therapeutic Gardens – Designing a variety of garden settings to support Horticultural Therapy activities” Meditation gardens in healthcare environments, physical therapy gardens in acute care facilities and other garden types will be presented.

The Benefits of Nature – Are We Becoming an Indoor Culture
NJASLA Conference – 01/26/2015
Jack will be co-presenting at the NJASLA Conference in Atlantic City on Jan. 26th. Jack, Missy Benson and Carol Krawczyk will be speaking about “The Benefits of Nature – Are we becoming an indoor culture.”The session will address what the future of outdoor recreation will be like in a world that is increasingly becoming sedentary, revolving around technological devices such as “smart” phones, computers, X-boxes, etc. The presentation will highlight current research findings that discuss why outdoor recreation is critically important for people today. The three presenters will show how landscape architects are becoming increasingly involved in the research, design and evaluation of environments that support outdoor activities and demonstrate, through built examples, how natural settings and designed landscapes enhance peoples’ health and well-being.

Landscape Architects Conference in Denver
National ASLA Conference – 11/24/2014
Jack Carman, along with his colleagues Leah Diehl and Steve Mitrione, presented a session “Are all Gardens Safe?” at the National ASLA Conference on Nov. 24th in Denver.  Despite the many physical and psychological benefits of water features and real plants, their use is being questioned and increasingly discouraged by various agencies. The risk of toxicity or infection by air, soil, and water-borne disease has hindered the installation of new water features and led to the closing of existing water features and removal of plants. The session will review the benefits of water features and plants, discuss concerns about related toxicity, infection, and disease control, examine best practices for the use of plants and water, and suggest talking points in defense of their inclusion.

“Therapeutic, Restorative or Enabling: Are All Healing Gardens Designed the Same?”
ASLA National Meeting – Nov. 15, 2013

“Designing Environments for Memory Support”
Leading Age PA – June 20, 2013

Healing Garden Certificate Program – Faculty
Chicago Botanic Garden – Chicago, IL – May 15 – 17, 2013

“The Woodland Garden – The intersection of Elders and Nature“
Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Network – Sept. 21, 2012

“Healing through Nature” conference
The Salem VA Therapeutic Garden project
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Il – July 20-22, 2012

“Using the Outdoor Environment to Enhance Wellness“
Eden Alternative Conference – June 1, 2012

“Playing in Nature: Why Therapeutic gardens Benefit Everyone”
SCOSA, – May 15, 2012

Healing Garden Certificate Program – Faculty
Chicago Botanical Garden  – May 9 – 11, 2012

“Lessons from Theme Parks – Influencing the Design of Senior Communities“
Environments for Aging  – April 30, 2012

“Making the World a Better Place“
PA/DE ASLA Meeting – April 14, 2012

“The Therapeutic Garden Project – Treatment for PTSD, TBI and Other Medical Conditions“
Leading Age – Oct. 16, 2011

“Water in the Designed Landscape: Benefits, Precautions, and Recommendations”
“Restorative Spaces/Healing Places: How to Make a Landscape a Healing Garden”
ASLA Annual Meeting – Oct. 30, 2011

“How to Use the Outdoor Environment to Enhance Wellness“
Pioneer Network Conference – August 4, 2011

“How to Use the Outdoor Environment to Enhance Wellness“
Pioneer Network Conference – August 4, 2011

“Healing Gardens“
PA Hospital – July 29, 2011

“The Environment and Wellness”
ICAA Conference – Dec. 1, 2010

“The Healing Properties of Water”
AHTA Conference – Oct. 14, 2010

“Restorative Gardens in Public Spaces”
ASLA Annual Meeting – Sept. 9, 2010

“Breaking Barriers to Accessing Outdoor Spaces”
PANPHA Conference
June 25, 2010

“Creating Therapeutic Gardens in all Senior Living Environments”
Eden Alternative
June 14, 2010

“Creating Therapeutic Gardens in all Senior Living Environments”
Aging Services
May 20, 2010

“Neighborhoods for Aging”
Environments for Aging
March 23, 2010

“Restorative Landscapes”
New York ASLA Chapter
January 14, 2010

“Aging Populations and the Role of Therapeutic Design”
Idaho ASLA Chapter
October 23, 2009

“Creating Therapeutic Gardens in all Senior Living Environments”
International Association of Homes & services for the Aging, London
July 22, 2009

“Healthcare & Therapeutic Site Design Symposium” Short Course
School of Landscape Architecture, University of Georgia
June 11 – 12, 2009

“Green Communities” and “Affordable Therapeutic Gardens in all Communities”
NJ Association of Homes and Services for the Aging Conference
May 27, 2009

Healing Garden Certificate Program – Faculty
Chicago Botanical Garden – Chicago, IL
May 6 – 9, 2009

“Designing Nature into Senior Residences”
Healing Gardens Conference, Medford Leas
April 23, 2009

“Successful Aging”
Delaware Regional Planning Commission, Phil., PA
Feb. 24, 2009

“Lessons from Theme Parks”
ICAA Conference – Dec. 4, 2008

“Emerging Dining Design Trends”
American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging
November 9, 2008

“Connecting People with nature through Universal Design”
American Horticultural Therapy Assoc. – Nov. 1, 2008

“Designing Landscapes of Healing”
Brooklyn Botanic Garden – October 23, 2008

“Green Communities: A Growing Trend in Senior Living”
American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging
October 13, 2008

“Designing Accessible Outdoor Environments for Older Adults” and

“Creating Walking Programs for the Older Adult”
PA Therapeutic Recreation Institute – June 5, 2008

“Gardens for Seniors”
Stockton Center for Successful Aging – May 29, 2008

“Walking:  Good for Your Body and Your Mind”
Senior Living Institute – March/April, 2008

Healing Garden Certificate Program – Faculty
Chicago Botanical Garden – Mar. 26 – 29, 2008

“In, Out and In Between: Spaces for Active Seniors”
By Design Conference – February 20, 2008

“Healthcare Gardens: A Part of the Prescription”
New Jersey ASLA Annual Meeting – January 29, 2008

“Horticultural Therapy Gardens”
Horticultural Society of New York – January 22, 2008

Publications

AAHSA Proceedings Journal

• “The Restorative Power of Nature and the Older Adult”, November, 1998

Advances Newsletter, The Alzheimer’s Association

• “Summer Fun: Let creativity guide you in planning activities for the person with Alzheimer’s”, Summer 2000

AIA Blueprints

• Outdoor Dining – Expanding the Culinary Experience
  By John Kennedy, CDM & Jack Carman, FASLA, RLAWho doesn’t enjoy a meal outside on a nice day? Think of all the good times you’ve had sitting around a table on the patio with friends, enjoying a glass of wine and a great meal. Maybe it’s a cook-out for a birthday or other special family event. Or maybe it’s for no special reason – just a nice evening listening to the birds and watching the sun set. That shouldn’t change just because someone is living in a senior community. There are many opportunities to create outdoor dining areas that expand the opportunities for special culinary / meal experiences.

AIA Proceedings

• “Designing Living Environments for Older Adults”, May, 2000

AHTA News Magazine – April 2013

• In Your Words- What Therapeutic Garden Do you Admire
  A therapeutic garden is a space that provides a profusion of plants and design elements intended to improve the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual well-being of the garden users. How these gardens are designed and used is open to interpretation, although therapeutic garden characteristics were developed by the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA, 1995). Several leaders in the field of therapeutic garden design were asked what therapeutic garden they admired.

ASID ICON | The American Society of Interior Designers

• Bringing Universal Design to the Outdoor Landscape – 2008
  Integrating universal design (UD) within a person’s home and community buildings is an idea that is growing in acceptance today. However, the application of UD to the outdoor environment has been slower to gain a foothold in the public’s perception of accessible environments—despite the fact that, thanks to the media and trends toward going “green,” public awareness of environments that encourage a relationship with nature is increasing.

ASLA Landscape Architecture Technical Information Series

• “Therapeutic Gardens – Assisted Living Residences”, 2005

Assisted Living Success Magazine

• “Post Occupancy Evaluations – Part I – Making the Most of Design”, December, 2001
• “Post Occupancy Evaluations – Part II – Completing the Job”, Feb, 2002
• “Victory Gardens”, Feb, 2002
• “Exploring Nature within the Grounds of a Senior Residence”, May 1998
• “The Bountiful Harvest – Starting a garden with seniors”, Aug 1998
• “Butterfly Gardens – Providing recreational activities for seniors”, Dec 1998
• “Starting From Seed – Preparing a garden for spring”, March 1999
• “Not Just For the Birds – The excitement of bird-watching”, Feb 2000
• “A Little Thyme Out in the Garden”, Aug 1999

Burlington County Times

• “A Growing Movements: Experts say gardens offer good therapy for seniors”, June 2000

Courier Post

• Gardens That Heal
  For the elderly, ill and disabled, getting outdoors can be therapeutic.

Curbed Philadelphia

• Inside North Philly’s newest senior affordable housing community
  New Courtland Allegheny is changing the way we think about senior housing
  “The garden off of the greenhouse, too, was designed with these patients in mind. Landscape architect Jack Carman of Design for Generations created a large outdoor space with a meandering walkway made of soft, pervious pavers.”

  Read The Article Here

Directors and Officers Forum

• “The Healing Power of Nature”, Spring 1999

Exemplary Dementia Gardens

• Backporch Garden at Medford Leas – 2006
• Visit their site

Friends Village at Woodstown

Therapeuticgarden has accessible planting beds. Friends Village at Woodstown features a therapeutic garden designed by a renowned landscape architect, Jack carman.

The Healthy Caregiver

• “Sage Advice for the Garden”, Summer 2000

House Beautiful

• How to Plant a Moon Garden, the Dreamy Landscaping Option You May Have Never Heard of – June, 2021

  We’re busy people and many of us get home too late to enjoy our gardens. But it needn’t be that way: A moon garden, featuring white night-blooming, sweet-scented plants is the answer, and landscape architects swear you’ll love it even more than your daytime garden.

  “A well-designed moon garden feels good and is endlessly fascinating,” explains Jack Carman, landscape director for Spiezle Architecture, Trenton, NJ, and a specialist in therapy gardens. “It engages the senses in ways that daytime gardens cannot. For one thing, it’s quieter and cooler in the evening—just the rustling of leaves in the breeze—so it’s instantly calming. Then you have the moonlight reflected in the flowers, plus the delicious scents that are characteristic of night-blooming plants.”

  – read more…

International Council on Active Aging

• Practical strategies for providing wellness in outdoor environments, 2011
• “Design for Senior Residences – Recreating Your Own Yard”, Spring 2006

International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) Developer’s Guide

• A Troubleshooters Guide to Designs for Wellness
  Have a design challenge? Here are some innovative solutions that other organizations have used to redesign problem spaces for wellness
• Support spiritual wellness through creative outdoor design – 2008
  Outdoor settings can help older adults find ways to connect spirituality and wellness

“Interaction by Design – Bring People and Plants Together for Health and Well-Being”

“Alzheimer’s garden Project of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Alzheimer’s Association” – Chapter 11, Iowa State Press, 2002

The Journal on Active Aging

• Enhancing wellness: Maximize use of indoor/outdoor environments
  By thinking creatively and making some simple changes, organizations can boost health and wellness benefits for their constituents
• The great outdoors: a key to promoting physical activity for older adults – 2009
  It’s easier—and less costly— than you might think to enhance your outdoor environment for healthy, active aging
• Recreating ‘the backyard’ in senior communities – 2006
  Outdoor areas designed to meet the needs of residents, especially those with special needs, can help these older adults feel at home.

Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

• What Is the Evidence to Support the Use of Therapeutic Gardens for the Elderly? – 2012

Long Term Care Designs

• “Introducing Nature by Design”

Landscape Architect Technical Series

• “Assisted Living Communities”

Landscape Architecture and Specifier News

• Tranquility Garden Offers Outdoor Respite for Elderly Catholic Sisters
  Republished from Landscape Architect and Specifier News, pp 14, 16, and 88

Lawn and Garden Retailer

• Gardening For Everyone – 2006
  Most of your customers can walk into a store, pick the plants they want and head home to plant them. However, there are those few customers who are not able to do so because of disabilities, age or allergies. Learn what you can do to help them have positive gardening experiences.

Memory Care Professional

• The Care and Use of a Special Needs Garden
  Making the most of planned activities in the garden. When an older adult is moved from his home to a special care residence, such as a memory care facility or an assisted living community, the transition can be physically and emotionally difficult. An accessible outdoor area at the facility that closely resembles a person’s garden or backyard can make the transition easier.

MemoryWell – News for the Ages

• Designing senior living to promote nature and wellbeing
  Jacqueline “Jacquie” Horvath used to tend the plants in the greenhouse at her senior living community in Bethesda, Maryland. A long-time gardener, it always made her happy to have her fingers in the dirt. “Plants are the most healing thing you can have around,” Horvath observes with a Carolina lilt. “They make you feel good,” she says.

myCentralJersey.com

• Retirement community becomes one with nature, August 2015
  Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas is a Continuing Care Retirement Community offering residential, healthcare services to older adults, on 200 plus acres of accessible public gardens.
• An East Coast first, Merwick’s therapy garden in Plainsboro offers step into the real world for rehabilitation patients, June 2013
  A garden for the real world: Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center in Plainsboro offers a unique therapy garden, the only one on the East Coast.

Nursing Home Long Term Care magazine

• “Special-needs gardens for Alzheimer’s residents”, June 2003
• “Raised Planters for the Senior Gardener”, March 2001
• “Nature by Design: Well planned gardens offer a host of benefits to senior housing residents”, March 2000

Oxford Textbook of Nature and Public Health

Parent Care Advisor Magazine

• “The Outdoors Offers an Array of Therapeutic Benefits”, August, 1999

Re-creating Neighborhoods for Successful Aging

• New resource recommends strategies to meet the environmental needs of an aging population

Retirement Community Business

• “Therapeutic Gardens”, Spring 2000

Senior Environmental Assessment Program (SEAD)

Senior Housing and Care Journal

• Walking to Maintain and Improve Health – 2007
  How the Integration of Sidewalks and Walking Paths in Senior Communities Promotes Successful Aging

Senior Living Executive

• Landscaping Can Grow Engagement While It’s Shrinking Expenses
  January/February 2020. pp 20-22

SJ Magazine

• Healing Gardens
  Medford resident Jack Carman is a Landscape Architect who specializes in theraputic gardens for continuing care retirement communities, adult day care centers, as well as private individuals. Jack spoke with us about his unique work.

Spaces For Learning

• Outdoor Spaces Help Promote Mental Health and Wellness on Campus – Spaces4Learning
  By John F. Wright and Jack Carman
  Today, college students are experiencing tremendous pressure and stress caused by an ever-broadening range of influences and factors. For each person, the root causes of these feelings are different. Some students propagate stress from within through self-imposed demands to achieve specific goals...

The Roanoker.com

• Salem Veterans Administration Medical Center
  Gardener’s Paradise – March/April, 2012
  Who knew that in addition to offering a broad variety of plants at great prices, the Salem VA Medical Center also uses its plantings as job training for veterans.

Vantage Magazine

• “Dig In – The Secret to an Outdoor Garden”, July 2005

Television / Radio

“Alzheimer‘s Gardens”
CN8, Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, (Currently airing)

American Society of Landscape Architects Educational Video
“Putting a New Spin on the Earth” — 19mins 27sec
[wposflv src=https://designforgenerations.net/wp-content/uploads/video/Title1_1_Chapter1.flv]

“Healing with nature: Gardens give sanctuary to Alzheimer‘s patients”
ABC News – July 9, 2000

HOPE Garden
Members of Faith Church, in Medford, grow food for needy people. (Video by Kevin Riordan / Inquirer)

Retirement Living Network at Cathedral Village with Jack Carman —

Retirement Living Network at Cathedral Village with Nancy Carman
[wposflv src=https://designforgenerations.net/wp-content/uploads/video/nancydvd.flv]

Seeking Solutions with Suzanne – Therapeutic Gardens
[wposflv src=https://designforgenerations.net/wp-content/uploads/video/comcastvideo.flv]

“Therapeutic Gardens”
Retirement Living Network

What Some of Our Customers Are Saying…

Everyone loves the garden – residents, staff and family. The residents go outside often. They do bird watching. It is a lovely outdoor area for them to enjoy nature. The garden gives residents a chance to do things. It is a very nurturing environment.

Staff Member Brandermill Woods Healthcare Center, Richmond, VA

---

The Chapel and Adult Day Therapy Gardens continue to be places to live! In fact, we are having a board meeting here tomorrow and are having the r reception in the Chapel Garden so we can enjoy.

Michelle Bieszczad – Administrator St. John Newmann Nursing Home

---

You really do great work! The River Garden at the Atrium in Red Bank is wonderful.

Al Diefert – Principal FCM Consulting Group, LLC

---

I believe the garden is a wonderful natural medicine, rather than all of the other medicines we have today. There are families who would bring their loved one outside to see our garden. So, I would give them a tomato or a cucumber. It transforms them. They almost cried. That person remembers their visit to the garden. Last year (2005) we raised 700 tomatoes from 32 plants. I just kept picking and picking and got lots of fruit for our salad bar.

Leo Molinaro – Resident Stapeley at Germantown

---

The garden totally changes what happens with a person with Alzheimer’s disease. The garden is a soothing and calming place for people. We get the family the family to bring their loved one who has Dementia outside – everyone relaxes. The garden works for people who are agitated. One couple comes out to the garden everyday. The husband has dementia. They share time in the garden together. The residents use the herbs that are grown in the garden to make crafts and other activities.

Kathy Schnurr – Director of Activities, CTRS, ATRA Virtua Health and Rehabilitation

---

No Adult Day Center should be without the garden. The garden added another dimension to the Center. The garden extended the care of the people by offering unique activities and programs. The garden is a tangible asset. It is marketable and something that sets the Center apart. You have to have something that people are interested in. People with Alzheimer’s can get bored easily. Creating a home-like atmosphere with activities from the home is essential. The garden offered those familiar elements. The garden takes them back to their past. These are enjoyable experiences.

Nancy Fiedler – former administrator Promise Alternative Day Care

---

A Labyrinth is an archetypal design etched into the earth. It is a path, symbolic of the many journeys we take in our lifetime, The labyrinth is a place for prayer, reflection, relaxation and the contemplation of the sacred mysteries of life.

Rev. Dr. Thomas G. Sinnott Heron Point Continue Care Retirement Community

---

The Therapy Garden which you designed blossomed to life this year and has exceeded all expectations. We at Merwick are so excited about utilizing it for our residents for a full season cycle now that it is complete – from early spring planting and on. It will be something truly special for all members of the Merwick family.

Joshua Jacobs – Administrator Windsor Healthcare Communities