As she expressed before, gardening had helped Jayne through her grief, further presenting the benefits that gardening can bring into our lives.
“I really started growing as a way to be frugal. The need to be able to support my family with fresh organic vegetables. However, I very quickly noticed the sense of freedom and wellbeing time out “digging” gave me. At the time when I got my first allotment, I had been struggling with anxiety and depression. After two years of therapy and medication, I really thought there was no other way to feel “normal”. It’s so well documented now just how significant to wellbeing social therapeutic horticulture can be to support and develop wellness- but it wasn’t something discussed or even mentioned to me at the time. I no longer have therapy- although CBT will always be in my arsenal- I don’t take medication- but I certainly know when I’ve missed my head space time given to me by my dedicated growing space. Like the old saying, therapy with free tomatoes!
I love trying to grow new things. This really has, over the last three seasons, taken me towards growing more flowers and things which support our pollinators. There used to be a real sense that allotments should just be for food – but we are all now so much more aware of our environment – that it just makes sense to support our pollinators. Without them, we just won’t get many of those amazing produce that fruit and vegetable growers know and love”.
Now an established grower, Jayne has developed her own traditions when gardening and provides some tips for those who are new to gardening.
“My gardening traditions are really those I’ve established for myself. Odd things like planting certain produce out linked to relatives birthdays! I always sow my chitted potatoes each year on my brother’s birthday – my sister gets the garlic sowing! I’m also very lucky to have some of my mum’s plants. About five years ago she gave me all of her blackcurrant, redcurrant and gooseberry bushes, as she needed to reduce the amount of work in her own garden. They’ve become so important, as they really represent a piece of her. In addition to this, next year I’ll also be sowing ‘forget me nots’ – which will become a new tradition to tend to.