A Personal Journey: The Joy of Planting Leafy Greens With My Work Colleagues Across The Country

Last fall my company sponsored a gardening and wellness workshop. I signed up, not exactly sure what to expect. It was a fun event, fun planting gardens with my colleagues across the country, promising to compare gardens every 30 days and recipes. I’ll never forget the first time I harvested fresh Swiss Chard from my salad garden. It was so rewarding, and I shared it on our company Slack channel because I truly felt like a gardener. Yes, the joy was real. I had grown tomatoes, peppers, and herbs every spring but this was my first year of planting a fall garden.  My social media feeds were full of Food as Medicine research and planting a salad garden with my friends seemed to take away any fear of failure.

Even as a garden beginner, I knew I had everything I needed for the garden and my plants would have everything they needed to thrive.  

Gardenuity supplied everything I needed and, in an hour, or so I was growing. Each day, I’d step outside with my morning coffee to check on my greens. I was amazed at how connected I felt to these plants, watching them grow and reach for the sun. As the days grew shorter and the nights cooler, my greens seemed to thrive even more. Kale leaves fanned out, their deep green color signaling that they were getting stronger. The spinach unfurled its delicate leaves, soft and tender. Even the arugula grew with a little peppery bite, just as I had hoped.

It wasn’t long before I could harvest my first batch of greens. I remember standing on my patio, scissors in hand, gently snipping the leaves, and feeling an unexpected surge of pride. There was something magical about knowing I had grown these seasonal favorites right on my patio. I didn’t have a sprawling garden, a lot of experience, or a lot of time, but what I had was mine, and it was thriving.

That night, I made a simple salad with my homegrown greens, drizzling them with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Each bite was bursting with flavor, and I couldn’t believe how fresh everything tasted. The arugula had a satisfying pepperiness, while the spinach and kale were sweet and crisp. It was as if the season itself had poured its essence into these leaves, giving me a taste of fall’s best flavors.

But more than the delicious food, I realized that my little patio garden had given me something far more valuable—a sense of gratitude. Tending to my plants became a soothing ritual, a way to slow down amid busy days. Each time I watered or checked on my greens, I felt a little more grounded, and connected to the natural world even though I lived in a bustling urban area. It was my own quiet retreat, just steps away from my kitchen.

As the season went on, I continued to harvest my greens, trying new recipes, and adding a few seasonal herbs to the mix. Rosemary, thyme, and parsley soon found their place among the leafy greens, filling the air with their earthy aroma every time I brushed past them. My patio garden became a place of seasonal flavors—changing and evolving as the days grew colder.

That first fall of growing leafy greens opened a whole new world for me. It taught me that you don’t need a huge space to create something beautiful and nourishing. With a few grow bags, a little sunlight, and some care, anyone can grow a garden that brings not only fresh food but also joy, peace, and a sense of accomplishment.

If you’ve ever thought about growing your own salad garden, I encourage you to get your fall garden growing. They’re easy to grow, rewarding to harvest, and there’s nothing quite like enjoying a meal made with your own hands.

So, thank you to our HR team and to Cigna for bringing the event to our team.

– Samantha R