What's New at Pacific Quest: December 2017 News

December 2017

Horticultural Therapy Training Day

This month Pacific Quest will host two company wide Horticultural Therapy trainings. Last week, over 40 staff members gathered at Reed’s Bay for the first training. We were able to utilize the full campus and make the most of our garden experiences for staff and the land. The day included plenty of high-energy horticulture-themed games and scavenger hunts to help people across departments and programs get to know one another and get excited about the land.

Travis Slagle, Horticultural Therapy Director, comments, “At PQ, we believe the greatest thing we can grow in a garden is a genuine curiosity about life, and a deeper awareness of ourselves and our relationship with the environment. The beauty of this training is the opportunity for all direct care staff at PQ to come together to learn and practice experiential methods that integrate horticultural activity with the most current evidence based practices and research from the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). By participating in this training, therapists and guides join a growing movement in nature assisted therapies that goes beyond the hiking and survival approach of traditional wilderness therapy.”

Read about the training and see more photos!

Golden Milk Recipe

There are numerous benefits of turmeric, something we grow plenty of at PQ! Turmeric has been used for centuries to aid in liver detoxification and promote stomach and gut healing. It has shown to help with joint pain and other inflammation and/or pain, as well as having anti-tumor, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

Here is a recipe students at PQ enjoy ~ Perfect for a warm and healthy alternative this time of year!

Golden Milk Recipe

Yield: 2 cups

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk, preferably coconut milk beverage or almond milk

1 (1-inch) piece turmeric, unpeeled, blended, or 1/2 teaspoon dried turmeric

1 (1/2-inch) piece ginger, unpeeled, blended

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil

1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

Ground cinnamon (for serving)

Preparation:

Whisk coconut milk, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, honey, coconut oil, peppercorns, and 1 cup water in a small saucepan; bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors have melded, about 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into mugs and top with a dash of cinnamon. Golden milk can be made 5 days ahead. Store in an airtight container and chill. Warm before serving.

Cooks’ Note

Using fresh turmeric adds a clean, bright flavor to this drink, but dried turmeric can be substituted when fresh is not available. Keep in mind that dried turmeric will settle to the bottom of the mug, so stir well before drinking.

5 Ways to Decolonize Your Life

Mike McGee, Family Program Manager

The term “decolonization” is controversial. It forces us to critically examine the western approaches to nearly all intellectual pursuits from politics to science to religion and social interactions. The opinion is held by many that decolonization requires radical action while others propose further education to create a fully imagined multicultural society. It can also imply that the status quo is flawed. Yet there are aspects of decolonization that can enrich each and everyone of our lives. These indigenous methodologies make up the worldview of intact or native cultures and can allow individuals to find deeper connection and meaning in this world.

At Pacific Quest, we strive to utilize these concepts without appropriating native cultures and encourage our clients and families to find their own unique expression.

Here are 5 simple ways (that we use at Pacific Quest) to begin the process of what I’m calling micro-decolonization:

Life is Cyclical
Value all perspectives in life development
Accept differing perspectives as truth
Give gifts that mean something
Have a connection to the source of your food

Read the full blog here!