5 Ways To Well with Chris Jesson

Professional Gardener and Horticultural advocate Chris, known by many as the Groovy Gardener, shares his wellbeing essentials. 

 

 

1.  Make Subtle Changes To Your Routine.

Adapt your routine subtly. Listen to the birdsong. Make it a five minute choice, Look out of the window at the sky. If walking, find a natural space or quieter lane to deviate your commute away from the air quality and noise of a busy road. 

Take the bus and look out of the window instead of having to make conscious driving and parking decisions. We drive too much here and do not switch off as easily when we could. Partake in a (preferably gardening!) book in the Library.

 

2.  Give Back To Your Community.

Give back to your community with a planted gesture or your time to our street scenes. I'm afraid the days are gone where beautifying the environment can all come out of what we pay in taxes, and Guernsey isn’t the only place affected by this. It is all too easy to delegate on a monetary basis but ‘people hours’ are everything in the establishment of places to enjoy. 

We are a community embedded by sharing and politely looking out for one another, so showing that makes us well! Even 30 minutes of your time spent planting engages the reward pathway in your brain and serotonin levels are likely to increase; so volunteer, or engage your work wellbeing by supporting Parish and charity level planting. Floral Guernsey would be delighted to hear from you and can point you in the direction of this - same with our extensive voluntary scene across the island.

 

3.  Engage With The Purity Of Plants

If you don't have a garden or particularly engage in it, then really get up close with Guernsey. When on that coastal walk, yes it is generally beautiful but look out for the flowers cheering us along. Take a bus or bike and deliberately include our Ruettes Tranquilles or a natural space.  We have a non-commercial way of life (largely) that shouldn't be homogenised, more celebrated for what it is. 

 

4.  Grow More or Source Local.

Contrary to popular belief local supply isn't always expensive, and it can work out more cost effective if we simply buy what we require at the moment we think of it. We have a thriving hedge-veg scene and often unusual things crop up (pardon the pun!) to buy and try due to our microclimate. Think of the Guernsey supply chain in informing your decision. That has a compassionate heart rooted within.

We ought to make more conscious efforts when delving into that often plastic wrapped food packaging, without even looking at the label, and say: “No, I'm not going to have what I normally have unless it is stickered ‘saved from waste’, because its footprint comes from afar and I'm not comfortable with that”. After all, Guernsey had a horticultural scene and it was decimated in the interests of convenience. I dispute that we don't have a horticultural scene anymore. The role models out there are still here.

 

5.  Plan What You Can Grow.

Go to the garden centre or preferably a nursery, or plan ahead what you can grow. Obviously I would say this but just browsing the textures, colour and varieties even without buying anything provides hope, engages the brain. You don't need to be 'greenfingered' to be well from this kind of experience, or if you are less inclined consider adapting that environment to suit you. 

Bring a garden inclined friend with you so you have their company and they can focus on the planty detail! If you're curious about growing, set the intention on the way to grow a few things and to be self-sufficient in a couple of things this year. Herbs, vegetables, cut flowers. The beauty of tracking their progress is the sweet success of little wins and wellbeing.