Lessons from seeds and soil – how growing my own has helped my mental health
For some time now I have been pondering the idea of writing a blog post about my passion. A passion that crept up on me slowly the last 5 years and then hit me smack in the in face last September. A year and a half after returning to work after having a baby.
Before having my daughter, Ruby, I had previously owned an allotment plot and attempted to grow my own veg, but it was a big plot and I seemed to spend more time pulling out weeds than growing prize-winning pumpkins. In fact, it was quite the joke in my family when at the occasional Sunday roast, I’d be beaming with delight over a lone parsnip on a plate that, despite its wonky state, absolutely deserved a standing ovation because it was grown by my fair hand and came from my plot.
And yet despite my enthusiasm, my life had started to fill with other priorities. I was commuting a long way to work, we had a busy social life. My trips to the allotment became less, and my harvests became non-existent. My attendance at the allotment committee meetings was verging on poor (Oh yes! I was a fully-fledged allotment committee member too!). One day after a particularly hectic week, my husband gently suggested that give it up. And so…I did. I reluctantly gave notice on my plot, resigned from my position on the committee, and threw myself into work and the rest of life as I knew it.
And then in November 2016 I fell pregnant with my daughter, Ruby. At the same time they were making redundancies at my work, and so I opted for voluntary and found myself with a bit of time in my hands a few months before she was born. And I found my way back to the allotments… wondering amongst the plots and gazing enviously at the neat rows of carrots and shiny red strawberries. I bumped into the Chair of the committee and she suggested that I take a small plot on the community allotment that would be more manageable. I practically bit her hand of there and then.
That was three years ago and since then I’ve been tending this little 2 by 2 metre plot with more gusto and enthusiasm than ever before. As well as growing way more vegetables, this tiny little patch of soil has been my absolute saviour.
It’s helped me to discover more about my values, what genuinely makes me happy and what’s important to me. I’ve found my Tribe of equally enthusiastic and friendly allotment folk – both fellow community allotment holders on our site, and GYO enthusiasts on Instagram (I set up an Instagram account @growlikeamum to save my friends and family from being bombarded with pictures of marrows and “cute baby cucumbers”!) It’s also hobby is that I can involve Ruby with – it gets us out the house and into fresh air. She’s learning about where her food comes from and has no issues with eating her greens. And she pretty free to run wild and explore the plot as she pleases… chatting to snails or pinching someone else’s strawberries!
And yet the biggest and most valuable benefit of growing my own only became apparent to me late last year. This was a particular difficult time for me. I was trying to juggle a new role, a long commute as well as attempting to be a fully present mum and wife. I felt stressed, overwhelmed, and was being pretty hard on myself. And on a day when it all felt a bit too much, I headed to my little plot, picked up a spade, and started digging. I literally felt myself physically and mentally unwind. It was on this day that it hit me that it really is true. Being outside, connecting with nature and all that comes with the growing your own 100% helps your mental health. It helps you to gain some much-needed perspective and it’s taught me some very important lessons in life.
And whilst the worlds of allotments and my corporate job in Leadership Development may seem poles apart (if you pardon the pun!) I keep finding myself drawing parallels. Especially in light of COVID-19 pandemic.
The lessons in mental health and mindfulness, this connectedness with nature that lock down has brought and the benefits this brings. The need for patience - as I have discovered the hard way that different seeds and plant varieties all adjust to light, temperature and their environment at very different rates. What works for some, doesn’t work for others in much the same way as people. The need for good measured judgement, and learning from our mistakes (do I plant now and risk a frost, do I hold off?) The need for kindness and compassion for those in our community, looking out for one another and genuinely showing we care. The care, consideration and gratitude for this planet and our environment that nearly every grower I’ve met has shown. And finally, the understanding and acceptance that sometimes you get things wrong, that things often aren’t perfect and that’s ok. There’s always next season.
So yes, there’s a lot our corporate leaders can learn from some seeds and some soil.
And as today marks the end of Mental Health Awareness week and it’s the beginning of National Children's Gardening Week – I am sharing this poem I wrote last week which sums up just how much I have personally benefited from pursuing my GYO passion and what lessons I’ll be passing on to Ruby. I hope you enjoy reading it … and then if you’re feeling inspired, go plant a seed 😉
If ever you’re sad my darling, plant a seed
For that seed is a symbol of hope
From its small and humble beginning
It can turn in to a mighty Oak
If ever you’re lost my darling, plant a seed
For that seed gives you something to do
You nurture and water and tend it
Until you see its tiny head poking through
If life gets too fast my darling, plant a seed
For that seed slows you down in your tracks
Its lesson in patience is priceless
It calms you, and teaches you to relax
If ever you’re angry my darling, plant a seed
Leave those feelings down in the ground
You’ll see that forgiveness is better
And the perspective you seek can be found
And when you’re happy my darling, plant a seed
For your happiness grows with that plant
And when one turns to many, you’ll soon find
You have a garden that’s full of your heart
And for the next generation, my darling, plant a seed
Teach them all of the lessons you’ve learnt
Teach them love and compassion and kindness
And that beauty can spring from the dirt
And when you’re old, my darling, keep planting those seeds
Never give nature short shrift
Because a seedling, a flower or garden
These are this world’s greatest gifts.
