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Ep.43: Cultivating Kindness & Connection With The Growing Kindness Project
1.4k Plays14 days ago
What if the simple act of giving flowers could transform not only your life but also the lives of those around you? In this episode of the Backyard Bouquet Podcast, host Jennifer Gulizia welcomes Deanna Kitchen, the founder of the Growing Kindness Project and the heart behind Twig and Vine Farm. Deanna shares her inspiring journey from a kindergarten teacher to a flower farmer, revealing how flowers became a source of healing during a challenging time in her life.
Deanna explains that her initial foray into gardening was a personal endeavor, helping her navigate feelings of isolation and postpartum depression. As she began to share her homegrown flowers with her community, she discovered the profound impact of kindness and connection. This realization led her to establish the Growing Kindness Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading joy and fostering community through the act of giving flowers.
Throughout the conversation, Deanna discusses the importance of community and the ripple effect of kindness. She emphasizes that flowers serve as a powerful catalyst for connection, allowing individuals to engage with one another in meaningful ways. Deanna also shares her vision for the future of the Growing Kindness Project, which includes the hope of establishing a Growing Kindness garden in every community around the world.
Tune in to today's episode to be captivated by Deanna's heartfelt stories and her passion for creating a movement centered around kindness and flowers. Be sure to listen to the full conversation and discover how you can get involved in spreading a little kindness in your own community!
In This Episode You’ll Hear About:
00:00-04:20: Cultivating Kindness Through Flowers
04:20-07:29: From Gardening to Community Impact
08:31-12:23: Growing Kindness: Creating a Nonprofit
12:24-15:04: Ripple Effects of Kindness: Creating Connections Through Flowers
28:26-31:42: Finding Purpose and Healing Through Giving
37:08-41:37: Community and Connection through Gardening
42:15-44:14: Envisioning the Future of Growing Kindness
45:13-48:46: Embracing the Power of Asking and Giving
50:45-55:33: Balancing Generosity and Profit in the Floral Industry
55:33-58:13: Community Generosity and the Value of Flowers
58:27-01:02:05: Flowers as Tools for Kindness and Community Connection
01:03:17-01:04:27: The Impact of Giving
Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2024/12/12/ep-43-growing-kindness-project/
Learn More About The Growing Kindness Project
- Web: https://www.growingkindnessproject.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingkindnessproject/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066888799511
Podcast Listeners Enjoy 7 Days of Growth Day FREE: https://www.growthday.com/?via=floweringfarmhouse
Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter
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Transcript
Introduction to Backyard Bouquet Podcast
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Backyard Bouquet podcast, where stories bloom from local flower fields and home gardens. I'm your host, Jennifer Galitzia of the Flowering Farmhouse. I'm a backyard gardener turned flower farmer located in Hood River, Oregon. Join us for heartfelt journeys shared by flower farmers and backyard gardeners. Each episode is like a vibrant garden, cultivating wisdom and joy through flowers. From growing your own backyard garden to supporting your local flower farmer,
00:00:32
Speaker
The backyard bouquet is your fertile ground for heartwarming tales and expert cut flower growing advice. All right flower friends, grab your gardening gloves, garden snips, or your favorite vase because it's time to let your backyard bloom.
Personal Growth Secret: Growth Day
00:00:55
Speaker
Hey flower friends, it's your friend Jennifer here, welcoming you back to another episode of the Backyard Bouquet podcast. Today, I want to share a little secret that helps me bloom, not just in my garden, but in my personal life too. That's growth day. It's the world's leading platform for self-improvement, where I find daily inspiration and invaluable wisdom from mentors like Brendan Burchard, Jenna Kutcher, and Mel Robbins.
00:01:22
Speaker
Just like we nurture our gardens, Growth Day has helped me nurture my mind with their incredible tools and community support. Every morning, I use their app for a dose of motivation and to jot down my daily thoughts, setting the stage for a productive day. I've arranged a special gift for all of you. Seven free days to explore Growth Day. Head to the show notes for this episode to claim your free trial and start planting seeds of personal growth today.
00:01:49
Speaker
Now let's turn our attention back to today's blooming agenda. Thanks for tuning in and here's to growing our best selves together. Today we're
Deanna Kitchen's Journey to Twig & Vine Farm
00:01:59
Speaker
joined by Deanna Kitchen, the heart and soul behind Twig & Vine Farm and the founder of the Growing Kindness Project. Deanna's journey from a tiny town to founding a movement centered around flowers and acts of kindness illustrates her deep rooted belief in the transformative power of community and connection.
00:02:18
Speaker
Operating from her family's farm north of Seattle, where dahlias bloom alongside tree forts and chicken coops, Deanna and her family embody the spirit of hospitality and generosity.
Healing Through Gardening and Growing Kindness
00:02:30
Speaker
Through the Growing Kindness Project, she extends this warmth even further, using flowers as a medium to spread kindness and joy. Deanna, it's so wonderful to have you here today. Thank you so much, Jennifer. It's an honor to get to visit with you today.
00:02:45
Speaker
Well, I'm looking forward to hearing your story and to just dive right in. I would love to know which came first in your journey. Was it Twig and Vine Farm or was it the Growing Kindness Project? That's such an interesting question. um I would say at the heart, it was probably the Growing Kindness Project. And then I went on this rambling journey. I think like we all do, we kind of take those paths that end up circling us back to maybe where we were meant to be all along.
00:03:15
Speaker
And so what happened with me is that I found Flowers to be an incredible healer in my life in a time where I was feeling really isolated and struggling to make connections and really needing to hold on to something just for me. um I had just resigned my physician as an elementary educator. I was a kindergarten teacher, actually.
00:03:38
Speaker
and was staying at home for the first time with our two little boys and I love that experience and I think many many moms out there can resonate with the feeling of feeling deeply grateful for the opportunity and the privilege to get to be be home and have that time with your little ones and also feel a deep sense of longing and maybe a little bit of grief, losing you know a part of you that you had maybe through your your career or you know those those connections that you had prior to that time. And so for me, um I was also navigating through postpartum depression. And
Community Impact of Flower Giving
00:04:20
Speaker
so gardening was just a really beautiful way to honestly just reconnect with nature and find a little bit of something that was just for myself.
00:04:32
Speaker
and um And we all know, I mean, any any anyone who's put their hands in the soil knows um how healing, that just that process of being outside and working in our gardens are. And so um it was through the flowers that I shared in my um from my garden that I started realizing that I had these opportunities to reach out and make connections in my community. So I started sharing flowers um as acts of kindness in my community, and that was such a fulfilling experience.
00:05:00
Speaker
and And then, you know, that kind of grew and grew um as hobbies have a way of doing. And it kind of um snowballed into becoming a small small business. on And then that became, you know, um I wouldn't ever say if we can find farm was a big business in any regard, it was always a very micro scale farm.
00:05:25
Speaker
i But one thing that I found that was really a part of my journey, and the more that I've talked to other people, i I've i have heard too that this this has become a part of their journey is that I had found a lot of joy and healing and connection and growing flowers to give them as acts of kindness. um And somewhere along the way, I think that I got caught up in um turning a hobby into a hustle. And and i I think that there are so many people who create um careers and businesses you know ah following that pathway of taking a hobby to a career that's really incredibly fulfilling.
00:06:12
Speaker
um And I think there are many who follow that pathway and and it it isn't because it was whatever the hobby was fulfilling um was was meeting was meeting a need in and of itself as as that. And so what I found as I grew our farm,
00:06:33
Speaker
was that what was really pulling on my heart was the opportunity to create connections and foster community. And that was really where I was finding joy. um And so when we moved here to the farm that we're currently on, we're on a 10 acre farm, very, very small portion of it is actually flowers, I would say less than a quarter acre.
00:06:56
Speaker
is actually flowers. But when we moved here and started growing more flowers, it was this opportunity to be able to give in bigger ways. And so kind of as all of these doors opened and closed and, you know, kind of followed the forks in the road, it really led me back to realizing that I wasn't really wanting to pursue um growing a small business. What I was really wanting to pursue was growing opportunity for impact in my community and create opportunities for connections for others.
Teaching Kindness Across Generations
00:07:29
Speaker
And that was kind of what led me to launching what's now a global um team.
00:07:36
Speaker
um as a nonprofit organization with a mission to impact the world with kindness by by growing and giving flowers. That's beautiful. I think so many can we relate to your story of having flowers initially as a healing mechanism that has brought so much joy into their life and then having that desire to share that joy with others.
00:08:00
Speaker
Would you say there was a specific moment in time where you just knew that you had to create growing kindness or did it evolve slowly over time? How did you transition or start growing kindness? Great. Yeah, that's a great question. um I definitely never never um never had this dream or vision like, hey, what I want to do is start a nonprofit organization. um that That was never something that was like clear or on my radar at any point before this. But what happened was there was a series of experiences that really led me to the realization that there was this opportunity before me.
00:08:40
Speaker
um And I would say one of them probably was, so as the first year of growing here on our farm at a larger scale and trying to to explore like what what that would look like if we were going to grow a successful business, um which it was a business at that that point, but like what would that look like to have it be sustainable and successful? i We know and we're exploring that. We had this volume of flowers to be able to share. And so at that point, our our kids, my husband and I is little, we have three boys. um They were wee little nuggets. yeah I think three three, six and nine when we moved here to our farm. And so the first season that we were really growing, so four, seven and 10, we would harvest, um I would harvest, some of the kids would help me at that stage, um flowers and we would put them in a radio flyer wagon
00:09:36
Speaker
Because it was easy at that point if I had to like to pick up a kiddo and like my little lesson carry him along, we could tow the wagon also. So we put the buckets in the in the wagon and we would go into long term care. im And the reason why was kind of multifold one was because I just had a lot of flowers and I wanted to see them.
00:09:56
Speaker
to see people get to enjoy them. um And two was because as parents, I think i think that other parents listening probably can resonate with us also. We really wanted our kids to understand what it looked like really early on to help others um and to be a part of community and also to understand how to have intergenerational connections. And so um they would come along and we would go into long-term care and hand out flowers as we were going. When you say long-term care, is that like through a hospital or a nursing home? That's a great question. So long term the long-term care um
00:10:33
Speaker
homes that we visited. and There were two here in our community. One is more of a retirement home that's kind of a model where um senior citizens would, you know, they have like in their own apartment, but supportive care and meals and things like that. And then the other facility that we visited here in our local community um was more of a um like therapeutic type care so those who are being individuals who were like there for rehabilitation to be able to like they'd fallen and had a broken bone and we're going to be trying to transition back home or individuals who that was their that was their care placement you know for their like sunset years.
Ripple Effect of Kindness
00:11:13
Speaker
And so, um yeah, one of the experiences that happened, so we would try to go weekly as much as possible. And one of the things that happened that really, I think there was, like I said, it kind of was this, um you know, the the little forks in the road keep happening and the signs keep being revealed. And one of one of them was that We would typically go, um when we went to retirement the retirement home, we would go at mealtime um because everyone would come down to kind of a central dining hall. And it gave us an opportunity to connect with a lot of people all at once. So it was a little bit easier than trying to shuttle up and down hallways. And um so we would go around and give flowers to all the residents that were there you know seated for a meal. um And oftentimes, there would be guests that were there with them. So like children or grandchildren that were there to visit.
00:12:03
Speaker
And we were getting ready to leave one day and and the what the buckets in the wagon were all empty, probably except for a few broken you know stems straggling around in the bottom of the bucket. And um a woman came up to us as we were leaving and she said, I just have to tell you thank you. And I i felt kind of packed. I'm like, oh, like we didn't get you any flowers. I'm sorry. We're out. And she said, no, I i want to say thank you because Watching that happen, watching those connections, watching the joy, watching your kids be able to connect in that way absolutely was a gift to me. And it just, it kind of ceded this realization for me that,
00:12:47
Speaker
well, an interesting side note, Harvard did a study, and I don't remember what year it was, I need to actually look it up, um but it was, they wanted to see how far the ripple of kindness would travel.
00:12:58
Speaker
and was so profound to me to hear the results of what they found. And they they discovered um what I think we all intuitively know, that when there's an act of kindness, we know that both the giver and the receiver impacted, right? Like when you could do something kind for somebody else, it has it has an effect on your heart, it has an effect on your day. And when someone does something kind for you, you know, absolutely the same.
00:13:21
Speaker
same. But what they found out was that that circle is so much farther goes so much beyond just those two people in that interaction. So anybody that's witnessing or observing an act of kindness gets to enter into that joy as well. And then What I thought the Harvard survey was really incredible too is that ah one single act of kindness goes out to directly impact 125 people in one day because each person goes on to to and interact with the people around them differently that day. So it's measurable to this um you know ripple of 125.
Nonprofit Status and Community Support
00:13:59
Speaker
And so what really occurred to me in that moment was that there is power in the story.
00:14:06
Speaker
in sharing those stories as well. And so that really inspired me to be brave and maybe a little bold um to share kind of the impact and what we were experiencing and and and be able to share the experience and of that act of kindness with others so that they can enter into it. So that was kind of one piece that was a catalyst for moving this forward as becoming a nonprofit was we realized that sharing the stories was just as important as actually just sharing the flowers.
00:14:37
Speaker
And so that's been one thing that's been really important as we've grown as a nonprofit organization is to be the keepers of these stories and to amplify them out and share them with others. um Because all of those just little drops in the pond create these ripples of kindness that just continue to move out and inspire other people to act in kindness. So that was one of the things that That's kind of a pause for me, like a sign in the road, if you will, like, hey, maybe think about this a little bit more in ways that you could help more people through this. And the other thing that happened was one of the gentlemen that we had shared flowers with, I still can picture, you know, those moments that are just crystal clear, like I yeah knelt down on my knee, I was in front of his wheelchair. I don't remember even who had wheeled him into the dining room.
00:15:28
Speaker
But I was down on my knee and we'd handed him flowers. And he said, you know, we talked for a bit. And then he said, Well, I just wish that everybody like me and he was referring to people, you know, in long term care resident situations could get to like get to have this. um and And that kind of filed away in the back of my mind. And kind of seeded. I think that was the seed of this idea of we're only one little family.
00:16:01
Speaker
and we only have so many flowers that we can grow and we only have so much time and energy and capacity. like We can only reach geographically you know in our local community and as far as our little radio wire flyer wagon would go, but like what if we could help other people be inspired and equipped to do this same thing and that's really kind of where the the wheels started spinning for me. Um, and so that first year after I grew my first, like I would say really grew dahlias. Um, and we had great, it was a great year, super productive, great hold rates. Um, I was standing in the barn dividing dahlia tubers and kind of looking at, you know, the feeling if you've divided dahlia tubers, it's just like Christmas. It's such a joyful guest looking at these little piles on the table and just picturing the ways that they have the
00:16:56
Speaker
Celebrating the ways they've multiplied but picturing the ways they could continue to multiply and this thought just done on me that this is it like this is the key for how i can help other people do what we're doing and so that year.
00:17:13
Speaker
I mean, you look you know do you ever look back at things you did and you're like, well, that was gutsy, like glad that worked out. But we just we just opened up our farm and we put out in our local community that anybody who would want to make a commitment to growing and giving flowers is an act of kindness.
00:17:31
Speaker
could come up to the farm and we would gift them to YouTubers to help them be able to do that. And so we had, I don't remember the exact count, but it was almost a hundred people im come and get YouTubers and go home. Just in your small town. Yes. Yeah. And what's, well, I wouldn't say, I mean, actually it was really beautiful because there were people, I mean, the the power of social media, that was when it was really active as a family, like on Twig and Vine and our um family social media. And um so we had people from, you know, Bellingham and Seattle and, you know, kind of where it wasn't like,
00:18:00
Speaker
too far of a drive to to come out but you weren't shipping them they it was a came us and i yeah again like what my i i just i I think we all are desperately longing for connection, right?
Universal Connection Through Flowers
00:18:14
Speaker
Yes. And I think that COVID taught us that more than anything, that we need connection. It is a vital part of who we are. And so but for and for me especially, that's always just been something that i I don't know if it's because of the way I grew up. like I grew up in a one-stop light town where like everybody knows everybody. i Ironically, not the tiny town I'm in now. but
00:18:39
Speaker
You know, this deep sense of connection has always been been a real, just a key part of who I am. And and so this you know opportunity to connect with all these people that day was so joyful. And we still have people who will reach out to me each spring and say, hey, guess what? I gifted dietubers to X amount of people, and I'm still growing and getting flowers and kindness. um And so it was just this catalyst of this idea that what if we could help more people do this? um We are all
00:19:14
Speaker
longing for connection. We are all starving for more kindness. um The Surgeon General announced last May that we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness, which it's thick statistically, measurably, medically is more significant and more concerning than any other disease that we are facing you know as as a society. And like it's connection is such a part of who we are and to what we need. And flowers are just such a simple way um to be able to have a tool that's the catalyst to create that. So kind of what unfolded from there was that i we'd send all these DalekTubers out into the world and pretty soon people are asking me like, well, now what? What do I do? When do I do this? What do I do? And so we realized that
00:20:10
Speaker
was one thing to give people with the resource to help them, but it didn't actually give them the confidence and the skills they needed to be able to be successful in growing them, and also to feel empowered and inspired you know in being able to do that. And so at that point, um we created a digital resource you know so that anybody could download it with just basic growing information. But alongside of that, um simple,
00:20:38
Speaker
helpful tips and insights on how to get out in your community and give flowers and how to use those as catalysts to create meaningful connections. um And from there, I feel like, you know, the the parts of the people's story were like, and from there, the rest is history, which it isn't at all. But it really, um that was really where the project really launched launched and where I began to see the opportunity to help people on a bigger scale. um And so it was shortly after that that we began to pursue um
00:21:15
Speaker
501c3 status as a nonprofit organization. The reason why we decided to pursue um becoming a nonprofit organization was it created so much more opportunity for impact. One of the things that ah lessons that I've been learning um loudly and over and over again is that when we invite people to join us and when we ask people for help,
00:21:40
Speaker
the opportunity for connection and growth and impact just multiplies exponentially. um So that was really a big catalyst for becoming ah a nonprofit organization. The other thing, the other reality um that I was facing was that those first years we were taking all of the profit from our farm and funneling it towards sustaining and growing the mission.
00:22:06
Speaker
And it worked for a while, but it wasn't sustainable in any way. um Not only for me, I didn't have the energy and the time and the skills and the capacity you know to pour all of this into the farm to fund the nonprofit, um but it also wasn't scalable. So really quickly as the organization grew you know by hundreds and by thousands,
00:22:27
Speaker
of team members, it wasn't it wasn't a sustainable model. And so by being able to invite people in to come alongside us and help support and sponsor and donate towards running the organization and supporting the mission, we've been able to reach an impact of even more people.
00:22:45
Speaker
Well, what's so neat is that here you are with this nonprofit that is about spreading connection and community, and what a better vessel than flowers. Flowers are this universal connector. I mean,
00:23:01
Speaker
I haven't met a single person that doesn't have a story about flowers. Everyone has a connection to flowers. and It's almost like this universal connector that if you start talking about flowers with someone, you can go up to an old man on the street or a little kid. My little kid will grab that flower and they'll be like, oh, my mommy has something in her garden. or a gentleman would be like, oh, my wife used to grow roses or um I had a neighbor, her husband grew roses and she had they had a rose garden. and Everyone has that connection and you pull those connections together and you're creating something really powerful here. I love that. Thank you. Yeah, it's been really incredible to be able to witness firsthand people's responses to flowers. and
00:23:44
Speaker
Somebody actually asked me once, why flowers? why Why wouldn't anything else for this mission of trying to help people grow a garden um and connect in their communities? like why Why flowers rather than any other you know opportunities or things that could be used for that? and It's interesting because i just i it's hard to summarize if you haven't experienced um having somebody hold out flowers to you, um what just what that does. The other thing that, like you said, everybody connects with flowers. um i've I've never um
00:24:25
Speaker
Well, funny story, a friend and I were just talking today, like, how many people do you know that have a flower tattoo? That it's such a significant and meaningful part of their story, of their experience, of their hopes, of their dreams, that they that they have it permanently on their body. Like, it's a lot. Like, I know a lot of people with flower tattoos.
00:24:45
Speaker
but I don't really know anybody with like a zucchini or a tomato tattoo. like Flowers connect with us in a really emotional way.
Gardening's Role in Mental Health
00:24:56
Speaker
And and I think that that's why it opens doors. you know We say over and over again, it's not about the flowers, it's about using the flowers as this catalyst to open doors to connection. And one of the things that I love, and it was my personal experience, and I've watched it over and over again happen with our team members,
00:25:16
Speaker
is that when you're holding flowers in your hand, it gives you this um kind of boost of confidence and and a sense of purpose. like I'm bringing these to you.
00:25:27
Speaker
And it feels maybe a little less crazy than just walking into a space or walking up to a person and saying, I just want to connect with you today. you know I just want to have a human experience. you know Even that's that's just a shared smile. When we have flowers in our hands, they become the catalyst that opens the door for that connection. And we have one team member who um her story just continues to inspire me daily.
00:25:55
Speaker
um who has overcome a debilitating anxiety disorder by taking flowers with her. um She says, when I have flowers in my hand, I feel brave. It creates the icebreaker that brings her into connection and interaction with other people. And without them, it feels a lot scarier. And so I think we all can enter in to understanding that feeling just a little bit. i mean you know, what was it? I mean, we would have been what over 10 years ago that you know, first taking those flowers in the long term care, if I would have just walked in the long term care with nothing in my hands and said, I just want to show up and be here, it would have felt a lot harder to do. But with flowers in your hands, it kind of gives you this
00:26:43
Speaker
courage to be able to reach out and start the connection. And like you said, it's it's a a gift that always is received and it's a gift that always brings about an emotional response or a really personal story. It's just really hard to be even able to summarize um the power and beauty and impact that that we can have when we use flowers to reach out to others.
00:27:12
Speaker
Yes, I agree. Sometimes I actually almost feel selfish because I feel like I'm getting so much out of the act of giving that I'm like, is this selfish? But I'm like, no, I'm feeding my soul and I'm feeding their souls um because you gain so much yes in return also. I could not agree more. um Anne Frank once said, um we never go poor by giving.
00:27:37
Speaker
And that has been um something that I've held on to really tightly, even as we started this nonprofit, um because nobody ever says starting a nonprofit organization is going to be easy. Like no one even tells you like, oh, that no problem. That'll so that'll be easy. um And it's it's not that I think anything that it's going to have impact and going to change lives and is going to hopefully create ripples of kindness in the world that continue you know for years and years is is going to be a challenging experience. and And so that quote has been something personally I've held to that like that the what we give always it is returned to us and in some form of of kindness. and And maybe that's now, and maybe that's years and years down the road. But I'm i'm thankful for that that beauty of just selfless giving.
00:28:37
Speaker
it's almost so Like you said, it almost sometimes feels selfish because we receive so much in return for it. And we have heard from our team members story after story, experience after experience, that giving flowers to other people has been a part of their healing journey. um It's interesting to me that what what took me to the garden and what brought me to Giving Flowers was this just like deep need for healing and connection because I was going through a time where mentally I was not doing really well. on
00:29:16
Speaker
that we we also We have so many team members who come to this mission. um and find such tremendous healing through some of the most difficult experiences, losing children, losing parents, um losing careers, grieving um you know over a life they thought they would live because they have health conditions that have changed that. i It's just been really, really a wonderful reminder to me um that we,
00:29:55
Speaker
When we give, we receive. And I think our team members can re-echo that over and over again, that that giving has been the thing that's helped them through really difficult times. And it's interesting because we always think that, well, if I keep that, maybe because we know when you grow a garden, even if you grow a very small garden, and in most most of the people, I would say, in this organization are beginning home gardeners. We also have some really incredible experienced flower farmers on our team.
00:30:22
Speaker
But even when we have like really tiny gardens, we're always amazed at how many flowers it is, right? And so it's just like this natural outpouring to give and share them. you know like To keep them all, you probably couldn't ever, i maybe you could fill every room in your house you know every week, but to give them you know is just such a natural extension. and
Growing Kindness Organization Structure
00:30:44
Speaker
And it's in the giving that I think that where our team members are finding just tremendous fulfillment and sense of purpose. We have lots of team members on our team who are you know in those years of having stepped out of career and are empty nesters and being able to have this sense of purpose in their community and getting out and giving flowers actively and engaging with different you know organizations and individuals in their community.
00:31:09
Speaker
It just gives them such a sense of fulfillment and purpose. And so it's just really incredible to see that full circle effect of like, we we receive so much from the gardening process and getting to gather the beauty of those flowers. And then we receive even more, you know, and we when we give that and share that with others. so I think too, if I can add, because I think most of your members are gardeners, right? They're growing these flowers that they're giving away. So when you're growing a garden, you are nurturing something. And in nurturing something, it gives you purpose.
00:31:46
Speaker
And when you have a purpose, I think you have more confidence and you you feel more alive. You feel like you have a reason for being here. And so when you have that purpose, it allows you to give also. Versus if you're in a really dark place, it's hard to give of yourself because you're so focused on just trying to survive that moment. But if you have a purpose, all of a sudden you're able to give more.
00:32:13
Speaker
at least that's how it's been for me is when I find myself with a purpose of something that I'm working towards, I just feel alive and I feel like I can give more of myself to others. And I think the garden does that for us. I couldn't agree more. um i and i'm not and don't Don't quote me as I quote this quote, and but it's something about when you it goes kind of the fact that when you don't know what to do for yourself, do something for someone else. And I think that that being able to just extend that act of you know being able to grow a garden, but then to give, like it's it does something for us. so So when you decided to make this nonprofit, how did you get people to join the Growing Kindness Project? How did how did it get off the ground? You were giving away flowers, but how did you create this movement? Yes. Well, it's so interesting because I've really stepped away from social media personally here.
00:33:11
Speaker
But i'm not ironically, through through social media and sharing the story. It was through sharing the story that people connected with and resonated with a mission. And so I found that the more I shared the story, the more inspired and excited people were to get to picture them themselves in those experiences and want to be a part of it.
00:33:31
Speaker
um And so um we started off the first few years with just inviting an ambassador team. And our ambassador team received Tell YouTubers and growing resources and then workshops helped them grow. And then also training on how to get out in their community and help spread the message of our mission.
00:33:52
Speaker
um And then really quickly realized that like there were so so many more opportunities to support more people. And so that's when we opened our Growing Kindness Gardener team um and invited people in there. I would say that oftentimes people still connect um through to our mission through social media. We've also had the privilege of being guests on really wonderful podcasts just like yours here um to get to kind of reach a broader audience. And then really,
00:34:22
Speaker
especially just organically. and We have so many people on our team who have a friend who came and became a part of the mission, either as an ambassador or a gardener. And, um you know, their friends, they watched their friends in the experience they were having, and just like, i i I want to be a part of that. I want i want to be, a you know, locked arms with these really kindhearted women who are on this mission to spread kindness. And so a lot of it has been organic.
00:34:48
Speaker
Gotcha. Thank you for that explanation. So you have two tiers. You have a level of ambassadors that represent the Growing Kindness Project? So historically we've had these kind of two ways um for people to join and get involved. And really the the the reasoning behind that was because we really wanted to train people who could go out into their communities and help bring the mission forward.
00:35:13
Speaker
um Right now, as a project grows, and we're just about ready to celebrate our fifth anniversary, which is that five years has gone past. And it's really incredible you know when you think about the number of lives the project has touched directly by supporting people.
00:35:32
Speaker
ah in helping them to go go grow a garden and give. But then thinking about those ripples you know beyond in communities all across the globe is really just it's really exciting. And I feel like we're really only getting started. So in um in the five years, we've also really um getting our legs under us and understanding you know what it what it is to build a team and build a mission and build an organization in a way that can have
00:36:03
Speaker
the greatest impact and so this year we actually paused accepting new ambassador applications that we could really focus on serving our returning ambassadors um and really helping them to really get their their um communities engaged with the mission. We are probably going to continue pausing our ambassador enrollment in 2025 as well so that we can again continue to really focus on some of these foundational growth pieces with the organization. um But anyone can join us at any time um in this mission, and anybody can join us at any time as a growing kindness gardener. So how many ambassadors do you currently have?
00:36:47
Speaker
Oh my goodness, that's a great question. um Over the years we've had, I think we're at 400. I usually do 100 every year. um And our ambassador team ebbs and flows a little bit, which is kind of, I really love that it's reflective of the seasons of life that we're in. So some team members take a year off and come back or they do you know consecutive years. um It's a bit dependent you know on kind of where people are at personally.
00:37:13
Speaker
But one of the things that I love the most about this mission is that anybody, I mean, there I'm sure there are people listening right now who are like, I'm already doing that. And of course, because I think it's a natural outpouring to take what we're growing and give it to others and let it be an opportunity for an encouragement and connection. um But there is something really sweet that happens. I think when we link arms and we're part of a bigger mission and a purpose, not only to be you know intentional and consistent about growing and giving flowers in our communities, but also
00:37:48
Speaker
to cheer each other on in in that act and and also to help spread this mission and invite other people to this. It surprises me probably because of my experience as being a gardener and I'm sure many people here are listening who are gardeners who, again, are thinking, I already grow and give flowers. But it surprises me the number of people who find our organization and find this mission and say, I never thought like I could grow some flowers. like I could do that. um And so it's been really wonderful to just inspire people with the idea that they can do this and the stories of impact of those who are. And then and then beyond that, equip them with tools and education and community you know to really cheer them on in that. So anybody can come at any point in time.
00:38:33
Speaker
and um you know be a part of the mission by downloading our free resources and continuing to grow and give and share flowers in their community as acts of kindness. And then if people are looking for more community, more connection,
00:38:49
Speaker
more inspiration and support and more education around like, okay, here's exactly what you do with your dietuber. And here's the ways that we can design, you know, three different bouquets using these ingredients, you know, those types of specifics.
Future Aspirations for Growing Kindness
00:39:01
Speaker
We have a community um for space where that happens and that's for our Growing Kindness Gardeners team um have access to that. So, and okay. So I assume that the Growing Kindness Gardeners is a membership based So if they want to access your free resources, they can just go to the website and download anything and continue giving away flowers. But if they want to be part of a community, you have a membership program where people can actually join as a gardener.
00:39:30
Speaker
Yes, so we have this really incredible community for our Growing Kindness Gardeners. Our ambassadors are also active in that space as well. um It's called The Greenhouse. Our first ambassador team named it The Growing Kindness Greenhouse. And I love what the name reflects is that it is a warm, bright,
00:39:48
Speaker
safe space where we can go to be nurtured. And that's really what we see happening as our team members um receive garden coaching there from our Flower Farmer team. They can take classes and workshops. They're either live or watch the recordings. And then additionally, and I think most importantly, they get to connect um and build relationships with other people who are equally happy to geek out about flowers, but also equally driven to make an impact on their community um by spreading kindness. um It's a really, really delightful group of people. So this group of people, how often do they meet in the greenhouse?
00:40:27
Speaker
The great thing is it's a private off social media format. So I think right now, especially, I don't know when this will air, but right now we're right in the middle of the thick of elections and goodness, you can get on social media and it's not a very uplifting or encouraging place.
00:40:43
Speaker
And so we love, we love that it's off social media and for that, just to be able to not have the noise and the distraction. i'm We bring in ah live coaching monthly. So we have coaching sessions with our flower farming team. We have an incredible um program coordinator there, Chelsea Willis, who's sweet to Lila Farm, who supports our team each week. um So as team members get stuck with things, they come and bring their questions and they get almost immediate answers there and support with that. And then we have monthly coaching and then we have a monthly live class where our team members join. And then we also have really cool opportunities just for connection and hanging out, meeting new people like we host book clubs and regional meetups, things like that just to build connection and and foster relationship.
00:41:33
Speaker
I love that. That sounds amazing. How many people are in the greenhouse? Do you know? I'm putting you on the spot here. I know I'm the worst about knowing numbers because I don't watch our analytics like I should. like This has also been the hardest part is I am not a systems data person like I need someone doing those pieces.
00:41:53
Speaker
i I think we are over, I think there's over 300 people right now in that space. So that's quite a community that can engage with one another. And it sounds like it's a global community. It it is. mo I would say predominantly at this time, we're Northern Hemisphere, um North America. I would say predominantly we're in North America. um But yes, we also have global team members in there as well.
00:42:19
Speaker
Awesome. Thank you for sharing about that. So how do you see the future of growing kindness evolving? I have so many hopes and dreams for the direction that growing kindness is going to grow.
00:42:36
Speaker
um my my you know kind of pie in the sky dream for growing kindness is that there's a growing kindness garden in every community across the world. And I think that that is an achievable goal. I think that we saw um the beginnings of this idea of citizens being inspired to create impact and change by growing a small backyard garden and the victory gardens during the World War um years. like I think that it is powerful because it's so simple. um and so are Our very long-term big goal is to be able to do that so that every community gets to experience the joy of
00:43:26
Speaker
giving and receiving flowers and kindness and gets to experience the stories and the connection that go along with those. Is this something you envision that would be like a backyard gardener signing up to be part of the Growing Kindness Project and giving their flowers to the community, or is this a spot that you envision people coming to in person in each community?
00:43:47
Speaker
That's a great question. I actually have hopes that we can provide both of those, whether it's a community garden or an individual's garden. and um Both have such power and opportunity for growth. Growing Kindness Community Gardens are something that we envision in our future. We're just going to need to be able to bring the right partners alongside of us um who want to help bring that into to fruition.
00:44:14
Speaker
i i you know um I quote Arthur Ashe often in our in our community. and It's easy for me to share. you know it's ah It's easier to teach than to practice, but one of the things that he says is, start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.
00:44:34
Speaker
And I love that the this this mission, this organization has gained such traction because it invites people into doing just that. And so right now, you know our focus has been being able to grow by helping individuals grow their own garden in the space that they have available just to use what you have. And as we grow, we hope to be able to reach into being able to bring community garden spaces to um more youno communities throughout obviously will first probably be the US and then beyond. That's exciting. Now, I assume that that will require some larger support of the organization, is that correct? It really is. um and One thing that's interesting, we were just talking about before we hit record, about how the bravery that it takes to make an ask.
00:45:25
Speaker
yeah And that's something that's a lesson I've been learning over and over again and have been so humbled and so inspired in is that when we can extend an ask, it allows people to have an opportunity to help. And and just like we know that it it gives us equal joy to be able to hand those flowers to somebody just as it does to be able to receive them. Getting to be a part of the giving and bringing something to fruition by supporting it, whether that is with your time or your talent or your resources, and brings equal joy into our lives also. And so we're, you know, I am learning. And when I say we, you know, it's, it's this kind of interesting dynamic right now. And
00:46:14
Speaker
you know i'm mean I'm sitting in my bedroom. It's not like we have a growing kindness headquarters with a corporate you know team, with an executive director. like This is very much a grassroots movement. um The we is all the people who've come to it and poured into it. So the we is every team member who's growing and giving flowers in their community. The we is everyone who's come along baha you know behind the scenes administratively to help make the bells and whistles work you know on systems. It's it's um this greater greater group and community. um I can probably single-handedly say I am learning to be bold in making the asks as as a spokesperson and as a founder of this organization that is something that I am and growing in and learning that there's
00:47:08
Speaker
that in not asking, the answer is always going to be no. And so we're learning along the way to be able to ask for support so that we can provide. community, education, because one thing that we do um that's a really important part of our organization, as I was saying, a lot of people who come to this mission are coming from a place of really deep need. They've either experienced significant loss or health struggles, but they have, it's so beautiful to me that even ah in spite of that or because of that, they have this deep desire to want to give and to create more kindness and in their life and in their community.
00:47:45
Speaker
And so one of the things that is really important to us as an organization, um well, two things is that we always have kept our Going Kindness um Gardener membership very, very affordable. And that's been through the support of donors and sponsors that we've been able to do that, to really be able to equip the givers with the education and the inspiration, the tools they need to be able to really get out and confidently give in their community.
00:48:12
Speaker
um And the other thing that we've done is, through the support of sponsors and donors, um been able to provide scholarships um that allow people who don't even can't enter into you know that that more affordable, accessible price point for the membership, um so whatever the life experiences are that are making that challenging, that we can provide them with a membership through a scholarship to be able to support them with the community and the resources that they need. That's great. Thank you for sharing that.
Balancing Business and Generosity
00:48:48
Speaker
You know, I started my flower journey by growing flowers in my backyard. I grew up around flowers. I always loved flowers. I always knew that when I was an adult and I owned a house, I was gonna have a garden. So my first house with a yard here in Hood River with my husband, I went to Costco and I bought like 64 Dahlia tubers. I've seen them grown before, but I'd never grown them myself.
00:49:14
Speaker
put them in the ground, and I had so many flowers. And I didn't know about the Growing Kindness Project. This was over 10 years ago now, so probably before you were officially founded. And I would collect all of my old vases. I would go to the dollar store and buy vases. And I loved just leaving random bouquets on people's doors.
00:49:36
Speaker
Have people started after a while like saying, hey, Jen, do you think I could buy some flowers from you? Do you think that someone could begin by giving away their flowers and launching a business? I think that there absolutely is. There are people who have, i mean honestly, in a way, that's how I started my business is this.
00:49:57
Speaker
this piece of you know just kind of getting your feet underneath you um and giving freely. i I think that it kind of comes back to that earlier conversation too, is that I think that pathway leads forward differently for different people. So you know for me, I followed that pathway of beginning with a hobby and then turning it into a business and realizing that actually the the things that I was trying to achieve and the things that I was seeking in my life were more closely aligned with leading this nonprofit organization and helping other people through flowers. And so that was the pathway that I took. Whereas there are many people, like your experience, that's how it started, is giving flowers and and the the fork in the road led down to having a profitable business. I think that the interesting thing is, and and maybe this is a real,
00:50:49
Speaker
hot button topic in the floral industry um is that I think there is still room for both and I think both can be done well and I think both can be done sustainably.
00:51:04
Speaker
ah I'm sure you, as a productive, profitable flower farmer, still reach out in your community and have opportunities where you give flowers where there's a need or where your heart feels pulled. um And you do it generously and freely with no strings attached simply because you want to give.
00:51:27
Speaker
anne And I think that that's not only sustainable and supportable for us personally, but I think it is for our businesses as well. i'm I think that that the danger zone that when we get into is when we're trying to maybe kind of do both things. And what I mean by that is is that either the intention isn't pure um when people are giving with strings attached. So that it's not an altruistic act, it's a marketing tool. And marketing tools are marketing tools. like Certainly, like they they have their place. But when you're trying to
00:52:12
Speaker
reach out to a lonely widow or, you know, give to the women's shelter or, you know, those opportunities. It's a beautiful opportunity as as ah if you are a for-profit biz flower farm or flower business to be able to give freely and also To be known in your community for your care for your community um on the other side of things you know when when flower growers and gardeners are just starting out it's really tempting I can on the same side to
00:52:46
Speaker
want to give but also want to be growing a profitable business and kind of blur the lines between those two and again. So it's it's providing really steeply discounted flowers um instead of either charging market price for what's fair And then alongside of that, having flowers that are gifted and given in kindness. And so I think when those two things can be kept distinct and separate, each of those purposes can continue to thrive
00:53:20
Speaker
alongside of each other and not only thrive but to support one another. One of the things that we have seen in our organization and team is we have had people who have started out as brand new beginner flower growers, you know, plant their gardens for the first time and move move on that pathway of starting a profitable flower business and simultaneously continuing to give as acts of kindness.
00:53:45
Speaker
to the organizations, to the individuals in their community who they feel called to give to. For me as a flower farmer, I'm not ever afraid of giving away a bouquet or a bucket of flowers to a nonprofit organization or to an elderly neighbor down the street and thinking that my flowers are devalued.
00:54:06
Speaker
I'm more afraid of selling my flowers at a discount that I'm not able to sell because then I'm changing people's mindset of what my flowers sell for. If I have a $35 bouquet that I can't sell, I'd rather take that and give that to the nurses at the hospital and brighten their day and not charge a penny for that and takes it take that excess bouquet and sell it for $5 because then I'm devaluing my time.
00:54:32
Speaker
Whereas I'm spreading the wealth of these flowers to someone who doesn't have time to care for to care and nurture a garden themselves. There's many people in our communities that, one, maybe don't have a garden. So you mentioned a woman's shelter. Someone living in a woman's shelter, unless that shelter has a gardening space for them, doesn't get the opportunity to put their hands in the dirt and physically grow those flowers. What so many of us, especially probably listening to this podcast,
00:55:00
Speaker
don't necessarily think about on a daily basis and it never registered with me because I've always grown up with flowers. Flowers are a luxury to so many people. I've never thought of flowers as a luxury because I can go buy a $2 seed packet and I can put them in the ground and I can grow them and I can cut my own flowers. But for a lot of people that don't have that knowledge or the skill or the ability to grow their own flowers,
00:55:27
Speaker
to buy a beautiful bouquet of dahlias at the grocery store or at the florist might not be attainable to them. And those are the people in your community, whether it's that nonprofit worker or that hospital worker who's overworked. If you give your flowers away to them,
00:55:43
Speaker
your business is not going to suffer from giving those. You're going to actually probably but benefit your business because like you said, people are going to know you for your generosity and they're going to other people in your community are going to want to support your business because of who you are and what you're doing for your community. At least that's how I personally look at it. Absolutely. I think that both can not only happen successfully, I think that they lead to more success for the other. I think that a business who is generous in supporting their community and generous in outreach is going to, I mean,
00:56:19
Speaker
It's going to be recognized for that in their community and that's going to be reflected in the success of their business. And I think that anytime, in like especially you know to for beginning growers, and I will absolutely say I didn't know any better you know when I was that brand new little, I'm going to have my roadside stand and sell $5 bouquets.
00:56:43
Speaker
you know I think that in in offering to do something as an act of kindness, like I'm going to sell these flowers really affordably, that's when we start to get into that dangerous ground of flowers not being perceived for their value.
00:56:58
Speaker
we I think that people who don't receive flowers and and are gifted them as an act of kindness, like that has more value than than yeah we can understand or put words on. Not only the act of kindness, but the flowers you know themselves and them getting to enjoy something that's so beautiful that would not have maybe been something that they had the accessibility or resources to to to go purchase on their own. I think you're spot on.
00:57:29
Speaker
and Also like with this $5 bouquet, and I'm not trying to put anyone down who's starting out and trying to sell those $5 bouquets because I truly believe if we all do our best until we know better and then we do better, we're always going to be improving. and we're just I don't think anyone in the flower industry is trying to put other people out of business or hurt the competition. I think everyone's just trying to do their best and trying to figure it out along the way.
00:57:55
Speaker
which is why I love these conversations because hopefully we're presenting people with another thought. But for me, if I see a $5 bouquet, my mindset is more what's wrong with those flowers because I know the value of them. And because people do think of like, if you're not
Emotional Impact of Flower Giving
00:58:11
Speaker
a flower grower, flowers are a luxury.
00:58:14
Speaker
They're a luxury item that you want to have. I mean, you watch the movies, and what does everyone have in their house? Beautiful bouquets of flowers everywhere. What do the restaurants have? What do the hotels have? Beautiful bouquets of flowers. there In society, they're a luxury item. So if we can pass that luxury on to someone, it doesn't cost you anything but your time.
00:58:35
Speaker
um and you'll feel so good about it. I mean, you're feeding your soul at the same time you're feeding theirs. So I've always, for me, when I have extra flowers, places I love to bring them is the schools. If I can donate flowers to my daughter's school, I'll never forget, she's in fourth grade now, but in second grade, I had, my CSA was over, I had a wheelbarrow full of flowers. All of the kids got to learn about how to strip the flowers, how to arrange them into a bouquet,
00:59:02
Speaker
And they got to take them home to their parents or their guardians. I still have those kids talking to me and remembering that experience. And that may be for some of them, their very first experience ever with flowers. I mean, I brought in basil and different things they could smell and they're putting their little noses in them. And that experience you're creating with them. Yes, it cost me my time that day, but those memories I created, hopefully there was maybe a future flower farmer.
00:59:28
Speaker
Absolutely. Or a future growing kindness ambassador um by paying it forward versus trying to post on Facebook and being like, I have some leftover flowers for a few bucks.
00:59:40
Speaker
I was able to do something really nice. absolutely And I mean, it's okay to post on Facebook too and if you're running a business and try and sell those flowers. I have done that in my early days, but this is a great alternative. I think it's a great conversation to have. um that Just this idea that flowers being a profitable and sustainable business And flowers being used as a tool as a catalyst for kindness and community and connection. Those can both not only live alongside of each other, but they can support each other so beneficially and wonderfully. um One of the things that's been really lovely is that we've seen our team members, you know, as they're learning more and more. And
01:00:21
Speaker
Recognizing how difficult it is to grow some of these flowers. We've really um encouraged and supported building connections and communities. So we have team members who will go and buy, you know, Lizzie and this or something, you know that they can't haven't been able to grow yet or don't have from their local flower farmer and they're happy to pay premium price because they now understand.
01:00:42
Speaker
the difficulty, that it you know the difficult hours and months and months you know that it takes to be able to successfully grow a flower like this. And so we see this mutual generosity happening with training and education and understanding how difficult it is to grow flowers. um And then simultaneously, the other really beautiful thing that happens, like you said, is that There are people that we take for granted because we're around flowers all the time and we've grown them for years and years or maybe like you, like all of your life. But there are people who've never been given flowers in their lifetime, ever. um And one of the one of the experiences that we have, two experiences that I'd love to leave you with, just the power of sharing generously is one of the things that we do each year and and anyone listening is welcome to come and join us. We have an entire free week of resources. It's a really fun challenge called the holiday cheer campaign.
01:01:37
Speaker
um we Even though the flowers have died for the season, we still continue giving and we do that by ways of evergreen and foraged um arrangements. So we teach our team members how to do that and they get out and give in their communities. And here in my local community, we were giving um evergreen bouquets away at our local food bank um during what is called their holiday give. So it's kind of right before Christmas, they're getting all their ingredients for a holiday meal and then flowers.
01:02:06
Speaker
And so one of the ladies who came through, the very first year we did it, I didn't even have the wherewithal to be able to put them in vases. They were just like rubber banded bouquets. She came through and with tears in her eyes said, I've been saving a vase. This is an elderly, like our grandmother's age woman, mind you. With tears in her eyes said, I have been saving a vase under my sink for some day if somebody ever gave me flowers. she never been given flowers in her lifetime. And we have another team member who received a bouquet at the holiday cheer campaign the following year. And she said, again, move to tears that like, I don't I don't know why somebody would give me these flowers.
01:02:52
Speaker
But the idea that someone's giving flowers to other people just in kindness is something I have to be a part of. And so she came and because of that bouquet that she received, joined the team, learned how to grow a garden for the first time. This is actually the lovely lady I was talking about who navigated through an anxiety disorder by learning how to grow and give flowers. And she now has gifted flowers in her community. I think she's on her fourth or fifth year.
01:03:20
Speaker
um and navigated through some really tough you know seasons of life through the joy of growing and giving. And so we we just have such power and opportunity to share. I mean, like what's this the quote that says, like to much to who who who much has been given, like much as expected?
01:03:40
Speaker
um like we have yeah i i i'm Again, I'm not quoting anything correctly today, but but this idea of when we have this abundance, like we have privilege and opportunity to share it, or maybe we don't have abundance. Maybe we have a flower pot of daisies on our patio. like We still can give from that and share it, and and it will have an impact, and it will have a ripple that travels out farther than we could ever know.
01:04:06
Speaker
Yes, beautiful. And sometimes you don't even know the impact you're having on someone's life. um And you may not ever know, but you're planting a seed um literally in someone's life that could bloom further down the line and have a really lasting impact. So I applaud you for what you are doing with your team. We have covered a lot today. Is there anything I haven't asked you today that you would like to share with our listeners?
01:04:35
Speaker
I think probably just how I can encourage them to come and get involved with and join the team and be a part of this with us. And we've talked a little bit about that we have free resources available on our website. We would love for people to access those. We have some really great simple ideas of ways that you can give in your community, some insights and information, things we've gathered and gleaned over the years of giving to different organizations, different facilities, things you need to know, you know, as you're approaching, um you know, giving in those, in those places. We have all that housed for you in our growing guide. So it's a free resource available to anyone on the team. The other thing, I know we have lots of fire farmers listening. The other thing that I'd love to share with you is
01:05:18
Speaker
a tool that helps take out any question about intention and purpose when you're gifting flowers in your community. We found out really early on the only time people would not receive flowers when we were giving them was when it wasn't clear that it was given with no strings attached.
01:05:34
Speaker
Sadly, we live in a society where that's not really the norm anymore. And so people often question, like, what's the string attached? And so um we have a free tool available on our website, again, under Free Resources. It's our growing kindness bouquet tags that make it really clear that the flowers are grown.
01:05:51
Speaker
and shared in kindness with no expectation of a return, just the hope that they'll brighten the person's day. um That's been really a powerful tool for being able to clarify purpose in giving. um And also to be able to link people back to this mission. Like I said, we've had many people who've come and joined us in growing and giving flowers because they were first gifted flowers with a bouquet tag on them that brought them to the growing kindness mission. So those are two free resources that I love.
01:06:18
Speaker
for your team to be able to tap into and check out if they'd love to. um And then again, we're hosting our, I think we're, I don't remember what annual it is, years of of hosting the holiday cheer campaign. And that's a project that our program that anybody can join us in. And it's available on our website also. We get live floral design classes, all kinds of really great resources to help them get out in their communities, even when the flowers have passed um in the holiday season, when I think we're all especially feeling keenly aware of our need for connection and spreading kindness and be able to um join us in gifting center or evergreen arrangements in their communities. Perfect. Well,
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
01:06:58
Speaker
how can people find your website? We are growingkindnessproject.org. I will put a link in our show notes today with your website, and that's where they can find all of your resources as well. Is that correct? That's correct. And that's also where they could join if they wanted to become a member of the greenhouse. Absolutely.
01:07:18
Speaker
Well, it has been such an honor to chat with you. Thank you for spreading so much kindness. Your ripples are going further than you can probably ever even imagine. So thank you for taking the time to be here today. And we wish you lots of success as you continue to grow the Growing Kindness Project. Thank you, Jennifer. It's been an honor to be here with you today.
01:07:39
Speaker
Such a pleasure. Thank you for joining us. Have a great day. As we wrap up today's episode, remember to visit the show notes for a special gift, a free seven day trial to growth day. Just like we tend to our gardens, growth day can help you tend to your own personal growth, providing tools and teachings from the top motivational experts. Grab this chance to nurture your own garden of potential. Thanks for listening and keep blooming beautifully. See you next time.
01:08:08
Speaker
Thank you Flower Friends for joining us on another episode of the Backyard Bouquet. I hope you've enjoyed the inspiring stories and valuable gardening insights we've shared today. Whether you're cultivating your own backyard blooms or supporting your local flower farmer, you're contributing to the local flower movement, and we're so happy to have you growing with us.
01:08:29
Speaker
If you'd like to stay connected and continue this blossoming journey with local flowers, don't forget to subscribe to the Backyard Bouquet podcast. I'd be so grateful if you would take a moment to leave us a review of this episode. And finally, please share this episode with your garden friends. Until next time, keep growing, keep blooming, and remember that every bouquet starts right here in the backyard.