The Participatory Process of Applying the Principles of Natural Agriculture to Create a Therapeutic Garden for Special Needs Children Through a Multi-Sectoral Network Partnership Case Study: Chang Noi Subdistrict, Bang Sai District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to: 1) to investigate the process of knowledge exchange in collaboratively creating a therapeutic garden for special needs children through the principles of natural agriculture, involving the roles of multiple stakeholders; and 2) present a participatory process model for applying the principles of natural agriculture to create a therapeutic garden for special needs children, using the community garden development model under the concept of New Public Governance (NPG). Research methodology is qualitative research, participatory research (PR), and in-depth interviews. The key informant group consisted of a total of 15 people, including: 1) the government sector (University), 2) the agri-nature foundation, 3) parents, 4) teachers from the Special Education Center of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, and 5) the community. Descriptive and narrative methodologies were implemented to analyze the data.

The major findings revealed the following: 1) The process of knowledge exchange to initiate the activity of creating a therapeutic garden for special needs children begins with all stakeholders, including government agencies, the community, schools, and the Natural Agriculture Foundation, participating in conversations. This begins with inquiries about the context of the area and raising development issues, leading to conclusions or actions. The garden is then created based on agreements from all parties, with resource planning from each party laid out from the beginning. 2) The participatory process model involves roles and hands-on efforts from all relevant sectors, including government agencies, schools, the Natural Agriculture Foundation, and the local community, to help create a therapeutic garden. Through the development of the area, this fosters a sense of ownership of the collaboratively created activity. It also involves cultivating plants in the vegetable plots to create sources of learning about edible plants and constructing small canals to irrigate the vegetable plots in the area.