Taran Singh: The Joys of Gardening

Taran Singh shares about how gardening has been his source of healing.

My morning begins with a pause. I step into my native garden with a warm cup of tea, watching a hummingbird dip into Mexican sage while summer fog rolls softly over the sea of lavenders.

It didn’t always look like this.

A decade ago, this space was just a patch of stubborn grass. To transform it, I didn’t use chemicals or machinery. I sourced free wood chips from a neighbor’s tree-trimming crew and sheet-mulched the entire yard over thick layers of cardboard. By spring, the grass was gone.

Over the years, I’ve curated a resilient ecosystem that thrives on occasional watering:  Lavender, olive, society garlic, strawberries and potato vine. Our bay-infused clay soil is nutrient-rich but suffocatingly dense. To help new life survive, one cannot just dig a hole and spread the roots. I built small clay mounds topped with loose, porous compost so the roots could breathe.

I have a massive sidewalk tree. Its roots aggressively invade my raised beds. Instead of fighting a losing battle, I choose compromise. I let celery bloom and spread its own seed right alongside. Whatever harvest I get is a welcome bonus.

This daily dance of pause, action and observation shapes everything I do — my writing, my working mantra, and my connection to this world. As summer cucumbers give way to fall kale, and seed-laden sunflowers bow their heads, the garden keeps me grounded. It remains my healing companion and a constant source of love. With a Perspective, I’m Taran Singh.

Taran Singh is a Newark resident, poetic storyteller, native gardener, and purpose-driven business leader.