Lessons Gained from Gardening

I can safely say that I initially developed the love for gardening as a child. I had a hands-on dad who, due to him growing up an orphan, was highly self-sufficient and preferred to do things himself. My dad would spend the whole Saturday in our back yard digging out weeds, spreading fertiliser, and sowing seeds. He would not do all this alone, he expected me to be his runner, or as he would playfully call me, “daddy’s right-hand girl”.

Fast forward, today here I am tending a home vegetable patch , growing anything that can grow: beetroot, cabbage, chilli peppers, peas, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.

So, as a leader, I have come to realise that there are many astonishing similarities between personal development and gardening. For now, I will share only five of these with you.

1.???? Work the soil first

When I first moved into my current house, there was a nice patch of grass at the back. It looked healthy and green such that I quickly assumed the space would be great for a vegetable garden. Within a month, I had cleared the grass, and was ready to plant my first vegetable seeds.

Among other veggies, I planted carrots and beet seeds.

In no time, although the seeds had germinated nicely and the new plants had luscious green leaves, I slowly realised that I had made one huge mistake: I had planted vegetables in sandy soil that although had been ideal for grass, it was not opulent enough for vegetables. In short, I had not examined the soil first to ensure suitability for vegetables, especially bulbous veggies such as beets and carrots, veggies that grow beneath the initial soil layer, unlike leafy veggies such as lettuce and spinach that grow above the soil.

This lesson taught me that just because one person had thrived in a particular environment, it does not mean that another person will thrive in the same environment. I have since learnt that are unique, and each person requires a specific environment - suitable to that person - in order to thrive.

2.???? Growth takes time

As a child, a day or two after planting seeds with my dad, I would go to the garden to see if anything were sprouting yet. I did not understand that for a seed to germinate, roots which are invisible beneath the soil, had to develop first. I later learnt that I cannot plant a seed today and expect to have a plant appear overnight.

The same applies to personal development: developing oneself, or others, is not an overnight process, it takes time. Except when we are watching Star Trek, time cannot be manipulated. Therefore, in terms of personal development, one should not impose either time or pace at which a person develops, patience is key.

3.???? Planting guidelines are there for a reason

There have been numerous occasions when I have planted particular seeds during the wrong season. To make matters worse, I would also have planted the seed in the wrong location in terms of sun exposure, and top it off, I would simply overwater the poor seeds. The results would be devastating.

This is because in the past, I would only read the guidelines after noticing that the plant is not thriving. I have now learnt that the guidelines at the back of a seed packet actually requires me to go through them before, not after planting.

This lesson taught me that each one of us has a past, present and future that needs to be taken into consideration before a personal development plan/path can be developed.

As a leader, I now know that when I understand an individual’s circumstances, social influences, goals, dreams, and aspirations, I stand a better chance of understanding how best I support them as they evolve into the best versions of themselves.

4.???? Proximity matters

I recently found out that certain plants should not be planted next to each other. For example, a year ago, I planted tomatoes next to my cabbages, and the results were disastrous.

After doing some online research, I found out that tomato plants should never be planted next to cabbage plants, this is because planting a member of the brassica family such as a cabbage, can stunt the growth of a nightshade family member such as a tomato plant because these two tend to out-compete each other for the same nutrients. Cabbage and tomato plants need the same nutrients to thrive, so the competition makes one of the plants suffer - and that is usually the tomato.

Instead, for instance, it is advisable to plant chives or basil next to tomatoes as they not only improve tomato growth, but they also function as an insect repellent for a tomato plant.

5.???? A customised support structure is key

Once it reaches a certain height, a tomato plant requires physical support, especially during the fruiting process. This is because during fruiting, a tomato stem cannot fully support the weight of its tomatoes and keep them off the ground.

Ultimately, tomato plants that are well supported reach their full potential, and the results is evident in the tomatoes that are produced.

From this lesson, I have learnt that as a leader I have to differentiate between those individuals that are more like tomatoes (need more support), those that are more like carrots (need minimal support), those that are more like peas (grow fast and spread), and those that only reach out for support as and when necessary.

Indeed my garden is my happy place

Alfred Austin aptly said, “To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” My vegetable garden continues to be my happy place. I only wish my dad were alive to see that "daddy’s right-hand girl" has now become a fully-fletched gardenerette.

My gardening experience continues to be a significant revelation. It teaches me precious life lessons about the workplace, personal development, and life in general.