The Surprising Wellness Benefits of Gardening With Perla Sofía Curbelo: Best of Growing Joy Replay
When winter sets in and our gardens go dormant, that 'green itch' doesn’t go anywhere! In this Best of Growing Joy replay, I’m revisiting my conversation with returning guest Perla Sofía Curbelo-Santiago, certified horticultural therapist and author of Verdura: Living a Garden Life, all about indoor plant projects for stress relief and mental health. Perla shares her genius tiny barefoot garden, a shallow pot of fragrant thyme you can rest your feet on for a little grounding when it’s too cold to go shoeless outside (an idea I’ve used ever since). We also cover creating a miniature garden escape, gardening for your inner child, and why just 15 minutes with plants can lift your mood for days. In this episode, we learn:[01:53] Rebranding of my YouTube Channel [02:43] Introducing Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago aka Agrochic! [04:24] How did Perla develop her passion for gardening and plants? [07:05] How did Agrochic start? [09:38] How did Perla balance Spanish and English content? [11:32] What does her plant collection and garden look like? [15:08] Make meditation more relaxing and meaningful with Wind River’s Meditation Chimes! [16:51] Learn how to grow cut flowers with The Cut Flower Handbook’s beautiful illustrations! [18:41] Why are people drawn to nature and plants right now? [21:08] Seeking simplicity to escape social media overstimulation [22:08] Perla’s interesting success stories about bringing plants into clients' lives [29:17] What is nature’s role in mood and healing? [30:42] Concept of gardening as a means to reconnect with one's inner child [34:18] Rediscover a sense of “awe” and childlike wonder [38:21] What is Perla’s barefoot garden project all about? [45:02] How do you create a miniature garden for yourself? [50:34] Get Perla’s book and follow her on social media! Mentioned in our conversation:Book by Perla ¡Verdura! – Living a Garden Life: 30 Projects to Nurture Your Passion for Plants and Find Your Bliss Book by Florence Williams The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative GardenComm My Garden Break KidsGardening Is your green thumb getting restless this winter?Check out the full show notes and blog for indoor plant projects that ease stress while your garden sleeps! Follow Perla: Website – Spanish Website – English Instagram Facebook Twitter/X Follow Maria and Growing Joy: Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)<