Gardening; newfound wellness routine
Over the past few years, there has been a notable rise in horticultural gardening, highlighting a shift in how Nigerians, especially women, now engage with their environment, intentional food sources and a general sense of conscious wellness. The growing of vegetables, spices and herbs, once considered a hobby reserved for retirees and the aged, particularly […]
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Over the past few years, there has been a notable rise in horticultural gardening, highlighting a shift in how Nigerians, especially women, now engage with their environment, intentional food sources and a general sense of conscious wellness. The growing of vegetables, spices and herbs, once considered a hobby reserved for retirees and the aged, particularly grandmothers or rural female farmers, has now become an exciting vocation among young professionals, students and families alike.
The reasons for this renewed interest are layered. For some, the economic pressures of rising food costs have inspired a return to homegrown vegetables and herbs. In cities like Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna, balconies have become mini-farms, growing tomatoes, ugu, turmeric, bell pepper, ginger, spinach, cucumber and scent leaf.
For others, especially the youth, gardening has become a form of self-expression and mental awareness. It is a way of reconnecting with nature amidst modern living. Instagram pages dedicated to houseplants and flower beds are now considered thriving and sustainable.
But this isn’t just about aesthetics; at its core, the horticultural wave sweeping through Nigeria is also about self-care. Many Nigerians are taking control of what they eat and how they live. For some, it is also a way of exercising and keeping the mind engaged.
Farmers’ markets and plant fairs are springing up, connecting growers with consumers and promoting conversations around organic farming and environmental care. For others, it is an innovative, new venture with high financial returns.
Weekend Trust speaks to horticulturists about their activities and inspirations behind gardening.
Bridget Okpokoro of The Plant’s Garden shares how her journey into horticulture was inspired by her mother, a devoted plant collector. Growing up, she helped care for ornamental plants that her mother lovingly moved between their balcony and living room. Though she studied English and Literary Studies, Bridget later developed a passion for agriculture, starting with growing edible plants on her own balcony.
“I grew up around plants/ornamental plants, what we generally refer to as flowers in this part of the world. My mum was a plant collector, and we would help her tend to them when she was away from her business. I watched my mum switch her plants between the balcony and the sitting room. The plants made her happy, and she used them to beautify our sitting room.
“I never planned to practise horticulture or gardening, as I had studied English and literary studies at the university. Somewhere along the line, in recent years, I picked up an interest in agriculture and started trying to grow edible plants on my balcony.
“I was sharing my progress on social media and people kept urging me to continue as I was inspiring them. My first commercial farming attempt was setting up a 1-hectare plantain plantation in Bwari, FCT. This was very tasking and didn’t turn out so well due to poor planning, but my eyes opened to a whole new world of opportunities in the agricultural industry.
“Today, I have built a thriving business that fully empowers me and pays my bills.
“Gardening connects us to nature. It is enjoyable and therapeutic,” Bridget said.
She also hints at the financial potential of horticulture for young people and the unemployed, even though it’s often looked down on in this part of the world. According to her, many spice and herb plants are medicinal, while culinary herbs, when well-selected and combined, can elevate dishes and promote healthier living.
“The world of agriculture and horticulture holds great financial potential for the youth and unemployed, but sadly, in this part of the world, this hidden gem is looked down on.
“Most spice/herb plants are medicinal. There are also culinary herbs that can take your dishes to another level if well-selected and combined.
“Many people have healed themselves and kept to a healthy lifestyle using medicinal herbs,” she said.
Rafi’atu Zirkarnain, a Zaria-based entrepreneur, said she started gardening to reduce stress, connect with nature and enhance her mood.
“I started gardening as a way to connect with nature and reduce stress. I noticed it improved my overall mood and mental wellbeing,” she said.
She adds that her interest in it was solely for pleasure and the joy of having fresh homegrown veggies in her garden whenever she needed them.
“I did it for both pleasure and the satisfaction that comes from growing your own vegetables; that feeling of being reluctant without having to run helter-skelter to buy veggies to cook, but walking right into your garden and getting all you need and in their freshest stage.
“I started it as a passion with zero knowledge, but as time goes on, I’ve asked, inquired and learnt both physically and through YouTube and other social platforms that share impactful gardening guidance and knowledge. I’ve grown so many fruits, vegetables and herbs, not just for my consumption but for my neighbours and passersby,” Rafi’atu said.
She also highlighted some of the many benefits of horticultural produce, including its therapeutic value, job creation potential, and ability to support healing and even stimulate hair growth.
“Aside from the therapeutic benefits it gives, it ensures a reliable supply of fruits and vegetables, thereby generating income and creating jobs. Beyond enhancing your tea and food flavours and nourishment, most of the herbs can be used to treat health issues, eg, fever, stomachache, stimulate hair growth, help with burns as first aid, blood production (those with money challenges) can opt for the herbs, among many others.”
Another gardener, Ms Tina, a passionate horticulturist whose love for plants can be traced back to childhood visits to her father’s farm, shared how those early experiences sparked a lifelong fascination with nature, eventually growing into both a beloved hobby and a flourishing business.
“My business was inspired by growing up and going to the farm with my dad. I love nature. I love to see how we plant things and they grow, and I started having passion towards growing things around me. I started collecting plants when I got married, about 25 years ago, and I had different species.
“I can say horticulture started from childhood as a passion. And it’s also a hobby because I still buy and collect plants that I love. I started as a hobby in 2000, and by 2018, I had turned it into a business. I saw an opportunity and took it. So, it is very difficult for me to separate the hobby and business aspects of it.”
She also revealed virtues that gardening has taught her and the many perks it comes with.
“I can say the process has been a learning one. You know plants and gardening teach patience. It has taught me to be patient; it has taught me to nurture. It has taught me that I can nurture and lose it, and that I can nurture and have harvest.
“Secondly, it’s therapeutic. I believe it’s very relaxing; it helps mental health, especially, and I always encourage women to collect plants. By the time you start googling how to take care of a plant, it begins to take your mind and thoughts away from negative things that will weigh you down. It is therapeutic.
“When you have herbs around, they are great for tea. I used my lavender and rosemary for tea. I use my bay leaves to boil rice. I use my pawpaw leaves when I suffer from constipation, and I use my soursop leaves as a really great antioxidant. I also have mint. Different types of mint. I have the spearmint and peppermint. If boiled inside tea, it helps with cold and loosening congestion in the nostrils. There are lots of benefits to keeping herbs that cannot be overemphasised.
“I love to have a great environment around me. I love my house to be filled with flowers, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees and grass. It gives me so much joy to come back to such an ambience.”
Mr Ibrahim Dooba, an agro-entrepreneur, also talked about his interest in fruit trees and shone light on the business of gardening, emphasising the immense financial potential it holds.
“Gardening, particularly mine focused on fruit trees, is very interesting. You can plant trees that serve multiple purposes: as income, as medicine and as food. For example, I plant soursop. Soursop is food and also helps fight cancer and prostate problems. It also helps with insomnia.
“You can also start making money immediately from soursop, even if it’s a week old. You can start selling the leaves. Recently, I sold less than 2kg of leaves for N50,000, and I have exported it to America.
“So, there’s a lot of money in gardening, and that is what I like about it. And that’s how intelligent people are, even those who are not interested. I tell them there’s money to be made. Money is a good motivator for people. Gardening can be more lucrative than farming cash crops.”
“The business is an interesting one that has to do with the collecting and tending/grooming of local and rare plant varieties for plant lovers to buy.
It involves nursing plants from seeds as well as plant propagation from stem cuttings, which means that a single plant can multiply into many others using propagation techniques. This, in fact, makes the business lucrative.
“There is also the landscaping aspect of the business, as well as plant maintenance services that can be offered to individuals and organisations. Startup cost is usually not high, but the business requires time, patience and energy. Other challenges come from drought in the dry season due to climate change,” Bridget added.
Cynthia Dauda, a high school teacher, narrated her experience with fresh spices that her mother-in-law uses in Jos.
“A few months ago, I visited my mother-in-law in Jos, and she had curry and thyme, which she bought from a church member of hers who plants and sells herbs.
“The flavour was definitely different from the branded ones I buy in the market. It was rich and strong. I thought it was very intriguing,” she said.