Rot to Renewal
Lessons from a Sleeping Garden & A Workshop for Gardeners Searching for Community
Managing a university community garden is always unpredictable. I never know who will walk through the tall gate: a professor seeking a moment of connection, a student overwhelmed by deadlines looking to be grounded, or maybe a faculty member escaping the fluorescent hum of their office.
Earlier this summer a student wandered into the garden for the first time. They were in awe by the colors, blown away by the sunflowers roaring over them. The vibrant purple hues in the eggplant, the way the tomatoes sparkled in the light. The bushy green colors made the garden feel so ALIVE.
When suddenly they turned to me and asked, “How do you deal with the garden dying? It’s so beautiful here. How do you not get sad when it’s all gone?”
Stunned by the question, I started to share about the beauty of decay—that death feeds the soil and prepares the garden for rebirth. Letting plants rest and wither creates space for new life to grow. The student left satisfied, and I thought I was, too.
But as the seasons changed, the question stayed with me. Watching the garden wither, pulling out roots, and covering the soil felt heavier than I let on. It reminded me that sadness and stillness are part of life, just as much as growth and vibrancy.
It’s now December, and the truth is… embracing winter can feel hard! But staying rooted in community has been the light that allows me to grow even as the days grow darker.
Even in the darkness of winter, it’s taught me: rest is not idleness, sadness is not weakness, and stillness is not emptiness. Seeds grow in silence, waiting for spring.
So can we.
Ready to Beat the Winter Blues in Community? 🌱
As a gardener, winter can be a tough season, but it doesn’t have to be isolating. If you’re craving connection, inspiration, and a way to channel the lessons of the garden into your own life, join me for a cozy and interactive virtual gathering designed to uplift and energize you for 2025!
What’s to Expect:
✨ Rest: Learn grounding practices to recharge and bring calm to your day.
🖋️ Reflect: Guided journaling to process the past growing season and set intentions.
🌺 Reimagine: Connect with other gardeners who understand the challenges of winter and are excited to grow in 2025
Monday, December 30 at 5 pm EST | Zoom | 40 minutes
Replay Available
Access the Zoom Link Below by Becoming a Paid Subscriber!
🌟 All this garden connection for $5—and support a young community-led, BIPOC Gardener! Subscribe today and let’s grow through winter together! 💚
Sending light and Love,
xx Brittney