May 12th 2024.
There's a new wave of young gardeners taking over, and Chloe Plumstead is one of them. Coming from a long line of green-thumbed women in her family, Chloe has embraced her inherited love for gardening over the past few years. She shares with The Agency, "Gardening has always been a hobby in my family, rather than a profession."
But it wasn't until her early twenties, when she and her boyfriend were renting a house, that Chloe began to experiment with gardening. It didn't take long for both of them to fall in love with it. When they finally became homeowners, their passion for gardening only grew deeper. "We bought our first house in late 2021 and had a blank canvas to learn with," Chloe muses. "That's when my love for gardening really took off."
Chloe's story is not unique. Many young people, from Gen Zs to Millennials, are discovering the magic of gardening. From jokes about buying too many plants at the garden center to proudly calling themselves "plant parents," the younger generation is embracing this newfound hobby. And it's no surprise, as research from the Royal Horticultural Society has proven the mental health benefits of gardening. In fact, those who garden every day have a 6.6% higher wellbeing score and 4.2% lower stress levels compared to non-gardeners.
Chloe can attest to these benefits. Since she started gardening, her perspective on life has changed. It's a relaxing and fulfilling hobby that allows her to escape from the stresses of work and everyday life. "Gardening gives me a sense of perspective," she shares. "It forces me to slow down and let go of control, as I am at the mercy of nature's plan." She also finds solace in making mistakes, as it's all part of the learning process. "I'm not striving for perfection; I'm just trying my best."
Now, Chloe is sharing her love for gardening with an online community. With over 13.2K followers on TikTok, she has connected with like-minded individuals who share her passion for gardening. She has also written a guide, "Get Started Gardening," to pass on her knowledge to a new generation of gardeners - the Gen Z and Millennial Alan Titchmarshes.
Despite the common misconception that young people don't enjoy gardening, Chloe believes it simply comes down to a lack of exposure. Growing up with her mother and grandmother who were avid gardeners, she found learning about gardening "infectious." She hopes to inspire others to find their love for gardening as well. "There are so many possibilities with gardening, and my advice is to keep trying until you find what you enjoy."
Meanwhile, across the pond in London, 29-year-old Ellen Miles is also making a difference in her community through guerrilla gardening. During lockdown in 2020, Ellen, then 26, began adding plants to her neighborhood with the goal of making it greener and more beautiful. She explains, "Guerrilla gardening is simply adding plants to your neighborhood wherever there's a suitable spot." Her efforts have gained her a following of nearly 85,000 on TikTok.
Before starting her social enterprise, Dream Green, which educates and equips people about guerrilla gardening, Ellen had no garden of her own. She was introduced to the concept by her activist friends, who showed her Ron Finley's Ted Talk. Finley, a guerrilla gardener in South Central LA, planted a food forest of vegetables for himself and his community. He famously said, "Gardening is the most therapeutic and defiant act you can do in the inner city. Plus, you get strawberries."
Ellen's motivation for guerrilla gardening goes beyond just making her neighborhood beautiful. She wants to contribute to her community and foster a sense of pride in her local area. And through Dream Green, she hopes to inspire others to do the same. "Gardening is not just about plants, it's about social and climate justice," she says. "It's a way of taking action and making a positive impact."
Chloe Plumstead comes from a long line of skilled gardeners, inheriting her green thumb from her mother and grandmother. Growing up, she saw gardening as a hobby that ran in her family, but it wasn't until a few years ago that she truly embraced it. Now at the age of 30, living in Ipswich, Chloe shares her journey with The Agency.
It all started when Chloe and her boyfriend were renting their first home in their early twenties. With a blank slate in their hands, they began experimenting with gardening and quickly fell in love with it. But it wasn't until they became homeowners that they fell even deeper into the world of gardening.
"When we bought a house in late 2021, we had a blank slate to learn with, and that's when I really started to fall in love with gardening," Chloe muses.
But Chloe is not alone in her love for gardening. Many young people, both Gen Z and Millennials, are starting to appreciate the magic of this hobby. From jokes about buying too many plants at the gardening center to proudly proclaiming themselves as "plant parents," the younger generation is getting involved in gardening.
And it's no surprise why. Research from the Royal Horticultural Society in 2021 has shown that gardening has significant mental health benefits. Those who garden every day have a higher well-being score and lower stress levels compared to those who don't. Chloe can personally attest to this, as gardening has brought a sense of perspective and relaxation into her life.
"Gardening allows me to slow down and let go of control. While I can influence what happens in my little outdoor space, I'm always at the mercy of nature's plan," Chloe reflects. "And I've also learned to find relief in making mistakes that don't really matter. I'm not trying to be a perfect gardener; I'm just trying."
Now, Chloe is sharing her love for gardening with an online community. With 13.2K followers on TikTok, she has connected with like-minded individuals who share her passion for plants and gardening. She has also written a "Get Started Gardening" guide to pass on her knowledge and inspire a new generation of gardeners.
Despite the stereotype that young people are not interested in gardening, Chloe believes it simply comes down to a lack of exposure. Raised by her mother and grandmother, she found learning about gardening to be infectious, and she wants to share that with others.
"There are so many avenues to explore with gardening and growing, and my greatest encouragement will always be: if you think you don't enjoy it, you simply haven't found your niche yet," Chloe adds.
But Chloe is not the only young person making a difference in the gardening world. Meet Ellen Miles, a 29-year-old from Hackney, London, who has become the poster child for guerrilla gardening. She started her own journey during the lockdown in 2020 at the age of 26, with the goal of making her neighborhood greener and more beautiful.
Ellen describes guerrilla gardening as the act of adding plants to your community in any suitable spot you can find. Her efforts have gained her a significant following on TikTok, with nearly 85,000 followers. She has even started a social enterprise called "Dream Green" to educate and equip others with the knowledge to join in on the guerrilla gardening movement.
Before discovering guerrilla gardening, Ellen had no garden of her own. It was her activist friends who introduced her to the idea after showing her a TED Talk by Ron Finley, a guerrilla gardener in South Central LA. Finley's project involved creating a food forest of vegetables for himself and his community.
He famously said, "Gardening is the most therapeutic and defiant act you can do in the inner city. Plus, you get strawberries." For Ellen, guerrilla gardening is not just about beautifying her neighborhood, but also a way to give back to her community and foster a sense of pride. She hopes to inspire others to join in and make a positive impact on their surroundings through gardening.
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