Molly Fleder, LMSW, is a dedicated social worker and therapeutic horticulture practitioner who integrates nature-based healing into education, mental health, and community development. As a full-time elementary school social worker, Molly leads school garden programs that support children with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and multiple disabilities. Her garden-based curriculum promotes social-emotional learning, sensory integration, cognitive development, and imaginative play—all within inclusive, nurturing outdoor environments.

In her school-based work, Molly helps students achieve personalized growth by aligning garden activities with their unique learning needs. Whether it's enhancing focus, building self-esteem, or encouraging environmental awareness, her programs offer hands-on, engaging ways for young people to thrive both academically and emotionally.

Beyond school, Molly has partnered with the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to provide environmental stewardship and vocational training for justice-involved youth, and with Community Connections to deliver agricultural job training and entrepreneurship opportunities for young adults. These efforts help foster resilience, connection, and a sense of purpose through meaningful work with the land.

Molly also works one-on-one with private clients developing therapeutic relationships—using their personal garden spaces as living studios for healing, reflection, and personal transformation. In these site-specific gardens, she collaborates with clients to create restorative landscapes that become thriving ecosystems for pollinators, birds, and soil life. These spaces not only support mental well-being but also contribute to broader ecological health by capturing carbon, managing water, and reducing urban heat.

Whether in a school garden, a vocational training site, or a private backyard, Molly’s mission is to cultivate spaces that support growth—human and environmental alike.