Dr. Sang-Mi Lee

The NC State Extension Gardener program recently welcomed Dr. Sang-Mi Lee, who on behalf of the government of the Republic of Korea, came to the U.S. to learn more about community and therapeutic gardens. Dr. Lee works for the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science in the Department of Horticultural Crop Research in the Urban Agriculture Research Division.

While in North Carolina she visited . . .

• Butner
  • Emilee Vanderneut & Kim Richter, NC Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital,  Horticulture Therapy Program
  • Jeffery Drowns, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Horticulture Education Program
• Chapel Hill
  • Sally Haskett, NC Botanical Garden Horticulture Therapy Program
•  Raleigh
  • Annelies Gentile, The Well-Fed Farm, Raleigh
  • The State Farmer’s Market, Raleigh
  • Kim Shaw, A Safe Place preschool, Raleigh
• 

  Lucy Bradley, Sang-Mi Lee, and Heather Kelejian, Director of the Ability Garden Program

  Wilmington

  • Heather Kelejian at the Ability Garden at the New Hanover Extension Center and the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Healing Garden in Wilmington.

Intent on building a strong network of US partners she also visited:

• New York City Community Gardens
• 

  Sang-Mi Lee and Bobby Wilson, Executive Director of the Metro Atlanta Urban Farm

  The Metro Atlanta Urban Farm and the Atlanta Food Bank Community Gardens

• Denver Urban Gardens
• Sacramento Community Gardens
• Seattle Community Gardens

While in the United States she attended the International Master Gardener Conference in Valley Forge, PA, and National Children and Youth Garden Symposium in Madison WI.

Dr. Lee shared information on her research on the health benefits of gardening to a wide array of populations including seniors, prison inmates, and youth gardeners. She also gathered a wealth of information, ideas, and contacts to take home with her. We look forward to her return.