Bloom & the Gang: Erika’s Story
Erika attended Bloom’s Gardening To Feel Good groups for 8 weeks over the summer. She has recently been undergoing treatment for breast cancer and was away from work to recover. Here, she tells her story- in her own words- about her experience of coming to our therapeutic horticulture groups.
Exploring Possibilities
I’d been having ideas about changing work and getting into some form of therapeutic horticulture. Bloom Sheffield has always been on my radar – I was thinking, at some point, when I reduce my hours, I might volunteer. But it was obviously from what I’ve been going through, I was feeling isolated. I thought that I needed to do something different to get out to feel normal. Even though I could easily garden at home, it was more about socialising, and doing something that had no pressure either.
Partly, it was also about testing myself, how physically able I was to do things and my energy levels. So despite knowing about Bloom before, I never thought I would be using the services, really. But you never know what life is going to throw at you.
I had done a lot of searching – care farms, allotment projects and therapeutic gardening. And I came across Bloom on social media. I also saw Bloom’s plant sale in the Botanical Gardens. I went and bought a couple of plants after my treatment. I started chatting to somebody about the Gardening to Feel Good groups. I was checking out whether I’d be okay to take part – finding out if there was any kind of pressure to it, like if I missed weeks would that be okay. Then after that conversation, I signed up. It was good to talk to someone and get a feel for the general atmosphere of Bloom. Other women dropped in and it felt like a nice space, women being welcoming and chatting together, even though it was just selling plants. But I got the feeling that it wasn’t really formal or austere.
Getting Involved
I referred myself to the sessions. A lot of it was about being able to do something different. Yes, I could do the gardening at home, but actually I would still be thinking about what’s going on with me medically. Actually getting out and doing something, somewhere completely different with other people, would take me away from all that. I was looking forward to going and doing something different and adding structure to my week.
Learning New Things
I liked having variety at the sessions, and the fact that you can choose what you want to do. It’s very much down to what you wanted to do on the day and you’ve really got free reign. There’s no being dictated to, or feeling as though you were at school. So depending on what I felt like doing – whether I thought, right I want to do a bit of digging, or I wanted to chop something, or I wanted to do something lighter like setting or deadheading – I could.
I’ve learnt new things too. I learnt about taking cuttings, which I’ve not really done myself before. And setting seeds this time of the year and overwintering things – I’ve actually done that in my own garden. So I was really pleased that I’ve done some flowers that have all come through, and obviously they’ll overwinter and flower next year.
Then I’ve had a go at doing some salad stuff in the greenhouse – I only set them at the weekend and they’ve come through at the weekend and they’ve come through already. Just the joy of oh, this is really working. So learning that, and having the confidence to try some new things makes me realise oh, it’s not actually as complicated as you think it would be.
It was also a nice touch being able to pick flowers. I always remember that. I had a bunch of flowers and was told, “oh, you can take more than that!” even though I was picking flowers out of somebody else’s garden.It felt so generous. It was such a nice touch.
Connection & Accomplishment
It was such a relaxed atmosphere at the groups. It felt that it was a safe space to be able to come and have two hours of escapism from everything else.
I’ve seen loads of benefits from Bloom. Social connection with other people, and for me, being outside and being in nature. I think coming back at the end of it, I would feel so relaxed. Having the flowers, which usually last from one week to the next. So when you look at them, it’s a reminder of the good things you’ve done in the week. And certainly for me, because I’m up and down with my energy levels and what I’m able to achieve – maybe having a week where I’m not feeling so good, being reminded of what I’ve already accomplished. It gives me a sense of wellbeing.
I’ve also been able to share some of my knowledge about gardening with other people. That’s been really good, especially in terms of the job that I do. It’s a reminder that I haven’t lost my ability to talk gently with people, and not coming across as a know-it-all but share knowledge in a nice way.
I think the flowers, the colours and variety lifts spirits as well. You can work on your own or with somebody else, but just being around plants and digging in the soil distracts you from your own thoughts. You can be quite mindful of what you’re doing.
Working with other women and being motivated to look after the allotment and the plants creates a really safe space. We have conversations and share our lived experiences. Someone might be going through something, and you can say ‘this helped me’, or ‘this happened to me and I did that’. It’s that peer support and peer advice that’s lovely. It’s getting advice in a very gentle way.
Staying Well
I want to maintain my own self care and my own wellbeing. And through Bloom I’ve realised that it doesn’t have to be an individual thing – I can do it when I’m with others. You often think, I’ll go for a walk, or I’ll work in my own garden because I know that’s beneficial for me. But there’s something about getting that wellbeing in a social environment as well.
I’d like to continue and volunteer to support other women as they come through Bloom as well. So that they can benefit from being there and help their own wellbeing, for whatever reason they’ve come.
I’ve been recommending Bloom to other women. To women in a similar situation to me, I’d say give it a go and find out if it’s for you. You don’t know what to expect until you get there – but it’s laidback, you can choose what you want to do from week to week and the fact that there’s no pressure. Just give it a go, and get the benefits from it.
If you are interested in finding out more about our Gardening To Feel Good groups, or would like to refer yourself, or someone you know, you can email cath@bloomsheffield.com.