Dirt. Plants. Live Corners. Biophilia. Taboo!
Nagwa: You make live corners. Me: Live corners! I like your mind and how you describe things. Little does she know the secret lies in the dirt and African relationality with plants.
Plants in the home or workplace are not for everyone, but I have them in both places for I carry a secret long held by my ancestors. I don’t have to think about it. I live with this secret, even here in Japan, and I ‘ve always taken it everywhere with me.
At my desk are a few air plants—succulents, that is. They are supposed to clean the air. I don’t know, but they work fine and do not need much attention.
But here at the Coffee Korner at work, I placed two house plants. Eventually, they became four; some are coffee, others are avocado. Now, it is my self-made job of 6 years to tend to them.
Today, I sought a pair of gloves to work with the soil to repot the plants. My chemical engineer friend has gloves in the lab that I could use. We walked and chatted.
Describing my use for the gloves, she remarked:
“You make live corners!”
I liked that. My soul lit up. (Little does she know that the magic for me is having my hands in the dirt and it is more than meets the eye)
This week was a drag, caused by late nights at work and little sleep, which left me with a foggy brain. More than that. I took the late-night call to learn that a second cousin died within this same month!
It still takes having my hand in the dirt to clear my mind and feed my spirit.
Did you know that humans have an inherent connection to nature, known as biophilia? Because of that connection, bringing plants indoors fulfills this innate need, making us feel more relaxed, focused, and connected to the environment.
My best thinking happens as I tend plants and have my hands in the soil.
Plants are amazing at transforming spaces, including what we perceive as dull corners, into lively and vibrant areas.
It is also more than a hobby. Could it be that I am drawn to something more cultural? You see in my African Guyanese culture, it is taboo to let plants die, wither, or look bad. What’s the story behind that belief? (to be continued).
What is your story? I’d love to hear from you.