Rediscovering the Garden

“We must cultivate our own garden,” Voltaire, Candide.

As the US has gone topsy-turvy since the election, I can think of no better advice than that which Voltaire gave us long ago in a book that’s still a favorite of mine. Its meaning has not changed. The garden buffer can be real, or it can be a metaphorical one we tend to in our daily lives just to stay healthy. Either garden is a safe space, a refuge.

I think of this a lot as I adjust to life at home more as school winds down. I graduate in just a few more weeks after being in the program for about 10 years. It’s difficult to readjust my compass to navigate towards new waters. What do I want to do now?

Not everyone in our program has been able to own or run their own garden or farm. Some have, some haven’t. (The range is impressive, and we’re an all ages group too—which I love.) I’ve had the gift of a garden though for over 20 years now, and am grateful to my parents for making that possible. Because of that initial wedding gift in the form of a down payment, I’ve been able to experiment, and I’ve learned so much on my own and with the help of friends.

Time really is the best ingredient in so many gardens.

In every classroom at school, there is so much potential and bubbling energy all around me most days, and I love being around it. Even though I can sometimes be overwhelmed by it, I will miss it the most. Sometimes I feel selfish for enjoying it so much—feeding off of the energy of others—but it makes me so happy.

It’s the synergy of all of us, and not any one individual. Synergy is what makes horticulture core to so many of us.

So, it is time to tend to my own garden, bringing home the lessons I’ve learned from going back to school. Not all lessons have been about plants either. I’ve learned a lot about myself and others, acquiring new skills along the way.

I learned to say “No” often to invitations. I struggled with being unable to have time to myself just to do whatever it was I wanted to do. I knew that there was not enough time for me during winter term to accomplish what I had to do, but I let it go, and decided to trust the process. I learned to be ok at just being bad at things, even after trying. Cheering others on is where it’s at. This too is what horticulture is about.

I graduate feeling a bit dumber than when I began lol. This is likely from exhaustion, but I can safely say that alongside that I feel more confident and professional too.

So this week is the first time in nearly two years where I’ve felt like the storm I’ve pushed through is over, and I can sit here calmly surveying the wreckage, noting what’s left alive and vital. Looking around at my space, I have clearer vision, kinder thoughts towards myself, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.