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Plant parents are flexing on the Gram and we couldn’t be happier

“HOW MANY HOUSE PLANTS ARE TOO MANY?”

Will likely not be a question you hear from a plant parent. If you live in an urban setting, surrounded by industrial innovations of a major city, then you know how much plants can turn the austere apartment into an adorned manifestation.

But as beautiful as it sounds, there is an effort necessary to living the plant-life. Plants are still life, and like children, they need attention and sunlight to thrive.


MONEY TREES ARE THE PERFECT PLACE FOR SHADE

I have had what some [friends] call a “money tree” or the Jade plant [Pachira aquatica] for a few years now, and have accumulated some other, smaller, planting pots to fill.

These pots I have filled with seeds immediately available to me; this includes seeds from fruits, mainly apples, and the occasional cannabis seed, usually female which produces the flower.

At one point I tried the ancient Japanese art of Bonsai tree growing. Unsuccessfully, I could not master the planting rituals described on the box. But the soil and pot from that are still in use.

I make a daily effort to tend to my precious plants, watering them, talking to them as suggested, realizing plants absorb exactly what we exhale, CO2. This is me in my plant parenthood.

Having house plants is therapeutic and permeates an ambiance into your space, calming your cabin fever qualm. Plants and planting are intricate parts of life, more than we regularly think. We, as humans have taken plants from an organism that lives off the land and brought them into our worlds.

It may take a bit of sunlight coming through your window to create that greenhouse effect of a sort. Greenhouses have advantageous effects when allied with growing all kinds of plants.

Between methane, CO2, oxygen, water, and UV rays, passing through a plant, the science behind planting can be fun, you can even step your game up and do a little in-home composting.

Coolaustralia.org
Coolaustralia.org

THE LEARNING CURVE

Planting is a task that can be a great learning experience and life skill worth having; like swimming. Growing a plant for their beauty is an accomplishment of time and patience and the return can be great. This can be cost-saving as you can grow your vegetables, fruits, and garnishes.

Plants are “pleasing to the eye” describes Darryl, plant parent, and social media plant influencer. They are living things that realize a life that flourishes in many ways, and with humans can become, according to Darryl, “long-term, botanical companions.”


BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP

The relationship we have with our plants is the relationship we can have with our environments; including, our food intake, our beloved wardrobes, and the everyday oxygen we breathe. We learn to appreciate the life around us and respect its omnipresent forms.

With the time passing and our visual sense are overstimulated with the digital waves, plants happen to be a great alternative to mindfulness and consciousness when escaping the virtual blurs of the day.

And sometimes they smell great like Gum trees, also known as Eucalyptus, or look dangerously cool, like Cactus plants, or succulents, which don’t require as much attention daily.

Nick, plant parent and social media influencer, says,

“FOR ME, EVEN BEFORE QUARANTINE, PLANTS TEACH US PATIENCE. THEY TEACH US TO SLOW DOWN AND TO APPRECIATE NATURE IN A NEW WAY THAT ISN’T BUILT ON INSTANT GRATIFICATION OR PERFECTION.

“IT’S NATURE NOT FURNITURE AFTER ALL, AND DURING A TIME WHEN WE CAN’T LEAVE OUR HOMES AS MUCH, PLANTS ARE VITAL TO KEEPING OUR CONNECTION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD ALIVE.”

 

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⠀ How can we expect to make responsible decisions for our planet when we are so disconnected from the world we are trying to protect? 🧐⠀ ⠀ I ask myself this question everyday, and as our urban cities grow we become more detached from nature and our food system. We need to SEE IT to believe it, and for me that starts with making the spaces we inhabit greener 🌿⠀ ⠀ I truly believe that plants are stepping stones towards sustainability, and the more we immerse ourselves in their ecosystem the easier it will be to cultivate a “nurture first” mindset. If I can get you to care about the little plant on your desk, I can get you to care about the BIG plant that sustains all life on earth 😉⠀ ⠀ But even with all of the recent positive news about the environment, it shouldn’t take a global pandemic or one day out of the year for us to realize the error in our ways. We’ve created an incredibly fragile and imbalanced ecosystem, and although I often feel discouraged I am hopeful that this crisis has inspired us to listen and embrace new behaviors 🙏🏼⠀ ⠀ It doesn’t have to be difficult, and here are three no fail ways to make a positive impact on the environment starting now:⠀ ⠀ 🌱 You don’t have to pull a Thoreau and move to the middle of the woods to cut down on your carbon emissions. Obviously we should be conscious of our behavior and energy consumption but also research a few carbon offset programs. They’re a great way to balance out your emissions from travel and your home ⚡️⠀ ⠀ 🌱 Shop second hand. I don’t buy new clothes. They’re expensive and take lots of resources and energy to produce. Plus each trip to the thrift shop is a new adventure. In the words of the wise Forrest Gump, “Thrift shopping is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re gonna get” 💁🏼‍♂️⠀ ⠀ 🌱 Go meatless for one meal a day. You don’t have to go stone cold vegan overnight but every meal helps. The key is making sure your vegan cooking exciting! Boring salads are CANCELED! Give me the vegan bolognese with lentils and roasted mushrooms over sweet potato noodles 🤤⠀ ⠀ Happy Earth Day humans. Go play in the dirt 🌍⠀ ⠀ 📸: @shelbypine⠀

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Nick suggests that we can learn to be patient at this time of angst. Coping with our isolation, in this time we can admit to our imperfections, thus, plants remind us of how we grow as beings.

Tasked with daily watering and minimal operation, plants are perfect ways to meditate through repetition and taking care of another living thing; a gentler creature rather.


PLANTING YOUR SEEDS

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Boxed Water has a whole campaign dedicated to planting one million more trees, as they accomplished their first ‘milli’ this year, 2020. This goal was set five years ago, according to Cheif Marketing Officer and former Hush Puppies President and Timberland Executive, Rob Koenen.

Considering Boxed Water as a luxury brand, with placement in retail spaces for AG Jeans, Rag & Bone, and Diane Von Furstenberg it shows that their message is more than selling water – rather, they want to emphasize the importance of a balanced ecosystem.


Boxed Water is encouraging its audience to live consciously through practice.

Growing house plant boxed water wants you to name your plant, as well as they, will plant a tree in honor of your social media sharing efforts, tagging Boxed Water and #BetterPlanet.

Koenen also shares an affinity for the house plant, or office plant rather, that he has named ‘Sam’ after his daughter Samantha. Naming your plant to create a connection not only to your house plant but to the environment in which we share with these living things.

Photo: boxwaterirbetter.com
Photo: boxwaterirbetter.com

FARMER’S CHOICE

“YES! I LOVE IT. NOT ONLY DO THE PLANTS PURIFY THE AIR IT’S YUMMY TO EAT!”

Conscious social media influencer, Thania Peck of Catcher In The Style said about her plants.

 

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Happy Earth Week, my friends! Every week is Earth Week in my books. This year is an enormous deal; we are celebrating the 50th year of Earth Week! We can all be more mindful of behavior towards mother nature. With that said, I’m super excited to announce the newest Earth Polo collection from @poloralphlauren! It’s made entirely of recycled bottles using a waterless dyeing process, and is super soft. Ralph Lauren is committed to recycling 170 million plastic bottles by 2025, diverting plastics from our oceans and landfills. If you choose to purchase new items, be mindful you are responsible for the life of the garment. Shop responsibly. Tap my look to shop #TheEarthPolo right here on IG. #VoteEarth #EarthDay #ad

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Thania has dived into the in-home farming game. She grows small veggies and garnishes which she is cooking with, while also saving money and trips to the market into the “COVID unknown.”

She tips us off to the fact that “It’s also more affordable right now to grow food at home. Things are getting very pricey at the stores.” Purified air and food for thought, plants are here to serve us as long as we serve them. Only then we can reap the benefits.

Even if you made it back to your hometown from your normal living situation in a major city, like Maryah did, interior plant stylist and influencer, plants have an attachment to your being that develops over time.


Maryah says,

“I’VE ACTUALLY BEEN AWAY FROM MY PLANTS DURING MY PERIOD OF QUARANTINE SINCE I LEFT NY TO BE WITH MY FAMILY. THAT BEING SAID, NOT ONLY HAVE I REALIZED HOW MUCH I MISS THEIR PRESENCE, BUT DOING VIRTUAL CONSULTING HAS HELPED ME TO RE-APPRECIATE EVERYONE ELSE’S PERSONAL JOURNEY IN PLANT PARENTHOOD!”

“THIS LOOKS SO DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE AND ITS A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PLANTS IS AS PERSONAL AND INTIMATE AS YOU MAKE IT.”


LONG TERM GROWTH

Planting is a life-long journey that someone like Shamini Dhana, founder of Dhana Inc. specializing in circular memory jackets of sentimental value, has known her whole life.

A journey that is innate to our discovery of life in general, plants can live with you throughout – they are our omnipresent relatives.

 

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Growth Is Good 💚

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Shamini divulged, “from child to adult, I’ve always had an affinity to nature – her beauty, abundance, and color. My mother was a stellar gardener and at one point, I remember us having close to a thousand plants and trees in our garden – from ferns to flowering, fruit to vegetables, green and color, scented and textures of all varieties. ”

“I LEARNED THE JOY OF ENGAGING WITH THE EARTH THROUGH GARDENING -, DIGGING, PLANTING SEEDS, TENDING, WATERING, PRUNING, AND CARING FOR OUR GREEN PLANTS AND TREES.”

She continued,

“PLANTING AND GARDENING OFFER CONNECTION LIKE NO OTHER – IT ALLOWS ME TO SILENCE THE MIND, TO BE IN THE MOMENT, TO CONNECT TO THE EARTH, IN EVERY ASPECT, AND WITH ALL THE SENSES. IT IS LIFE.”

We can thank the plants – the air, the sun, the soil, and the water – for our existence today and our presence here on Earth tomorrow. Granted, we treat the planet’s most vulnerable, delicate, and decorative features with respect and dignity.

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Groth Progress og Shamini’s garden

The Dhana Inc. founder continued, “with gardening, we are the facilitators, the connectivity tissue between soil, plant, and food. We, together, are bonded and there is imprinting that happens when you plant a seed or bulb. As you travel through life, the plant too travels its path and you are forever enjoined in this discovery.”

“I’VE ALWAYS FELT THAT JUST LIKE TREES, PLANTS HAVE A “QUIET INTELLIGENCE” ABOUT THEM.  WE ARE, AFTER ALL, INTERTWINED WITH THE SAME LIFE ENERGY – THAT WHICH KEEPS US ALIVE AND THAT WE SHARE AS ONE – AIR, WATER, SUN.”

As others explore the avenues of growing plants, others are consciously adopting these habits out of necessity and compassion for the essential-workers of our society. Stacie, mixologist and social media influencer known as the Garden Cocktail has dedicated her life to growing herbs and garnishes for her specialty cocktails.

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Photos of Stacie courtesy of LG by Cassell Ferere

Stacie elaborated, “plants have always been a draw for me because I love taking care of things. dogs, coworkers, roommates. I always had houseplants but things exploded when I got my first place with outdoor space about five years ago.”

“I STARTED GROWING A COCKTAIL GARDEN OF OBSCURE THINGS FOR GARNISHES AND DRINKS AND THAT HOBBY HAS CONTINUED TO TODAY. WHEN QUARANTINE HIT, MY HOBBY FELT A LOT LESS LIKE A HOBBY AND I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS I GROW MORE AS NECESSITIES THAN COCKTAIL PARTY TRICKS.”

 

“IT’S MADE ME RESPECT OUR SUPPLY CHAINS AND AGRICULTURE SO SO MUCH MORE AS SOME INGREDIENTS BECOME DIFFICULT TO PROCURE. THIS SUMMER I’M GROWING MORE ITEMS AND SPECIFICALLY MORE COOKING HERBS VS THINGS JUST FOR FUN. I’M SO DANG THANKFUL FOR OUR GROCERIES, OUR FARMERS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO GET THE VARIETY OF INGREDIENTS WE EXPERIENCE HERE IN NYC ON A REGULAR (EVEN QUARANTINED) BASIS.”

 

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#ad To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, I am seriously jazzed to be working with the folks at @TimeOutNewYork (aka Time IN right now!) and @FeverTree_USA to make a twist on a Paloma! During this quarantine, I made the decision to only use the best mixers for our evening cocktail hours because these small indulgences feel like good house rules to impose right now for a bit of fun. I love the Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit because it uses real Florida grapefruit juice. 🍊💖⁠ .⁠ For my take on a Paloma, I wanted to use easy-to-obtain ingredients that pair well with grapefruit, so I chose mint and fresh ginger. Since I live in NYC, I don’t have space for a big juicer, but I still get that hot ginger flavor with a blender and a small fine-mesh strainer! ⁠ .⁠ I’ve got a tutorial video that shows my “hacked” juicing-without-a-juicer technique, and my stories link out to the piece on @TimeOutNewYork where they’ve got a taco pairing for a few Paloma variations that can easily be made at home!⁠ .⁠ 🍊Snappy Paloma 🍊⁠ 🔸2oz tequila with a 1-inch ginger piece blended in + strained with a fine mesh strainer⁠ 🔸Squeeze of lemon juice, I used a pink variegated lemon! ⁠ Mint for muddling and for garnish⁠ 🔸Fever-Tree Grapefruit Soda to top⁠ 🔸1 lemon slice for garnish⁠ 🔸Optional: Edible flowers to garnish⁠ 🔸Optional: Rim your glass with salt and pink peppercorn⁠ .⁠ Add the tequila and ginger into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into a fine-mesh strainer to remove all of the solids. Add gingered tequila to a lowball glass and muddle with mint. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and shake with ice. Top with Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit and garnish like heck! ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #MixWithTheBest #cincodemayo #gardencocktails #cincodemayo #cincodemayococktails #craftcocktails #imbibe #imbibe #mixologyguide #imbibegram #drinkstagram #cocktailtime #handcraftedcocktails #liqpic #saveurmag #mixologyguide #bareaders #homebartender #cocktailsathome #homecocktails #cocktailquarantine #cocktailgram #cocktailsathome #madeathome #thingstodo #thingstomake #thingstodoathome #tequilacocktails #paloma⁠

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Quarantine has shifted thinking for a lot of entrepreneurs and businesses. Now there is an incentive to think more circular in every aspect of life and Stacie and the others are cultivating Green New Deals with their landlords and exploring the beauty and application of growing plants.

Stacie digressed,

“I’M STILL GROWING SOME WEIRD THINGS THIS SUMMER, THOUGH. I GOT SOME TEENY CHARAPITA PEPPERS FROM BRAZIL THAT I’M MOST EXCITED ABOUT.”

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.