Where the Best Chats Happen
Hard at work AND hardly working
You’ve probably realised by now that I’m passionate about the work I do. I believe deeply in the magic of sharing space and gardening with community, and I get to feel and see that magic every time I step into a group.
Facilitating groups is a balancing act: a mix of energies, personalities, and needs. It’s also a wonderful lesson in flexibility and letting go.
When a group of people, many of whom don’t know each other, come together, you’ll find a broad range of operating systems. Some thrive with clear guidelines and just one or two options, while open-ended invitations can feel overwhelming. Others prefer to hang back, observe, or do their own thing. And of course, there are endless variations in between, shaped by each person’s traits. Or simply their mood that day.
As a facilitator, my role is to do my best to create a safe space for all of that to exist.
Safe doesn’t mean meeting every individual need perfectly. Instead, it means holding an environment where people feel supported enough to bring their feelings, process them in their own way, and know that they belong in the group.
Chop-and-drop chats and gigles
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of running two regular gardening and wellbeing groups. While they’re held in different settings and shaped by different objectives, they share many similarities.
No matter what brings people together, whether it’s background, interest, or circumstance, when a group hits its stride, the magic starts to happen. Conversations flow easily, laughter bubbles up, and the work feels light and therapeutic. There’s a unique rhythm to it: relaxed yet engaged, at ease yet active. Several pairs of hands tending to the same task, or people gathering together to create something bigger than themselves.
That’s the beauty of gardening in community. It’s not just about the plants, it’s also about the connections that take root alongside them, growing in unexpected and wonderful ways. If you’ve ever joined a gardening group, you likely know that feeling. And if you haven’t yet, maybe it’s time to give it a try.
I’d love to hear about your experience. Are you a part of a gardening group, or another community activity that brings people together in this way? What do you love most about it?