Plants and Mental Health

What Plants Can Teach Us About Mental Health at Work

Selective focus of businesswoman gesturing while walking with partners in office.
In nature, nothing truly grows alone. Beneath the soil, plants are in constant conversation—sharing resources, warning each other of danger, and adapting together when the world around them changes. This quiet cooperation is what keeps entire ecosystems alive. We aren’t so different. At work and in life, our well-being is deeply tied to the people around us. When one of us struggles, it ripples outward. When we share kindness, understanding, and support, we all grow stronger together. The truth is, modern workplaces can be stressful, especially when pressure is constant and rest feels like a luxury. But by looking to the natural world, we can remember a powerful truth: connection and care aren’t just “nice to have.”… Read More

Helping Homeless San Diegans One Plant At A Time

Alpha Project residents show off their new orchids from Good Earth Plant Company.
Several months ago at a Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C3) panel discussion on the homelessness problem in San Diego, one of the panel members really energized me. Her name is Amy Gonyeau, and she is Chief Operating Officer with the Alpha Project. For those who aren’t familiar with it (like me I’m embarrassed to say), Alpha Project is a nonprofit human services organization that serves over 4,000 homeless men, women, and children each day with a variety of services like affordable housing, residential substance abuse treatment, transportation, mental health counseling, employment training, and also emergency services. I started my career in the plant industry with a flower kiosk on the corner of 6th and B streets in downtown San Diego.… Read More