Launceston Show Day
Launceston Show Day, which falls on the second Thursday in October, marks an annual tradition in my life. It's the green light to start my vegetable garden 🍅. You see, it's a well-known rule in Northern Tasmania that you can safely plant your veggies after Show Day to avoid the risk of frosts.
This year, I had a fantastic time in my garden. I got my hands dirty planting, watering, and mulching. I set up support structures for my snow peas to climb and hung baskets on the fence for strawberries. Yes, I had dirt under my nails, leaves tangled in my hair (thanks to the wind!), and a pretty sore back. However, the satisfaction I gained from the experience was beyond words.
Research tells us that gardening offers numerous physical and mental benefits. It enhances balance, strength, and endurance, promotes relaxation, and reduces stress. Gardening provides a deep sense of accomplishment, but what struck me most was how I use my garden, both the vegetable patch and the flower beds, as a canvas for my creativity. I'll be the first to admit that I can't draw or paint to save my life (my kids can confirm this), but my creativity, my willingness to experiment and innovate, finds its expression in my garden. It's lush and vibrant and ever-changing as plants grow and seasons shift 🌿 . The way I structure my garden beds, choosing plants based on their height, flowering times, and colours, is all part of creating a harmonious and interconnected whole.
As I sit at my desk this week, immersed in creating workshop materials, I realise that it's a lot like tending to my garden. I'm getting creative with props and activities, designing an agenda that allows different "plants" – in this case, people – to shine throughout the day. Just like my garden, my workshops need a balance of colour, flexibility, and structure. They need to come alive while serving a purpose.
Finding various outlets for creativity is essential for our overall health and well-being. I'm sure you're already thinking about your own creative passions, whether it's gardening, art, crafts, photography, music, interior décor, or even solving puzzles. Whether at home or at work, discovering a creative outlet can help you open new doors (or gates) and ‘grow’ in unexpected ways.
While I eagerly await the first tomatoes of the season, I'd love to hear from you if you need support in creating a workshop for your team that's not only creative but also purposeful and fun. Whether it's about #governance, #strategicplanning, #leadership, #teamwork, or #workplacewell-being, we've got you covered. Or, if you have a unique challenge in mind, like tackling those stubborn agapanthus roots, I'm always up for a good challenge.