gardening is healing

Gardening has become one of the most grounding parts of my life.

My love of gardening started with propagating indoor plants, which for someone with ADHD and a propensity to do everything on impulse, I have been forced to wait many months to see the fruition of earlier labor.

I pulled apart, re-potted, nurtured, observed and waited.

For once in my life, patience was not forced. I accepted the process without challenge, an return it offered me something deeply nourishing, and led me to a love of potting and gardening that I feel has almost changed the course of my life.

My love of indoor plants has led me to my garden, and growing cut flowers has been added to my list of soul-healing passions. With lots of learning and testing to do, and at least 6 months of patience required to see the output, my cognitive capacity is challenged well beyond indoor potting.

Planning ahead has never been in my repetoire but with cut flowers, it is non-negotiable. The planning of seasonal florals however, in itself is a joy is not too different from my textile design work, where my love of colour curation is fully engaged.

Planning and planting outdoors has even more reward - real physical movement that elevates my mood, and and a constant sense of awe as I learn, test, and witness first growth. Planning colour-blocked grow bags of cut florals is a creative dream come true!

One of the greatest benefits of any indoor or outdoor planting is that you do not need to have a large garden and with so many wonderful ideas on indoor planting, you don't even need a garden at all.

I am also in a rental property, so whilst I have a huge garden, I am creating a micro flower-farm mostly out of grow bags, which I can move with me if and when I need to. Whether it is a few pots on a balcony, a windowsill herb garden, grow bags in a courtyard or a small backyard bed, anyone, anywhere can experience the joy of a relationship with plants and soil.

My Soul & Soil field notes and product guides gathers the tools, books and ideas that support a gentle, regenerative approach to gardening — helping us reconnect with the natural rhythms that nurture both the earth and ourselves.