How Gardening Saved My Life - Gardening, ADHD and Mental health

[@petelowe74]

What a horrendous and cruel start to your career, glad you came through it ok; though I’m sure it left a few scars. Wishing you every success in achieving your dreams, I shall enjoy watching you achieve them.

[@thriftygreenlife]

Thank you so much! 💚💚

[@marktownley3587]

I’ve liked gardening as a child, but as I’ve got older, gardening, growing fruit and veg has been my saviour. 5 years ago I was in a very low space after their the death of my father, I spiralled out of control, getting into a very dark space. Your story is reminiscent but, although still on anti depressants, the garden is my saviour, and the pleasure I get from it is wonderful. I do get low times but I try and set myself a plan to get over this and take the small wins rather than worry about everything around you. Keep gardening and share your successes and failure but enjoy every win. Love your channel.

[@thriftygreenlife]

I’m so glad to hear that gardening also helped you through a tough time. It really is amazing for the soul ❤

[@marktownley3587]

@@thriftygreenlife ❤

[@GardenerGray]

Well done for sharing Nikki. Much braver than I am. You're doing amazing, even just how successful you have made this channel in such a short space of time is incredible 👍 We all get overwhelmed with gardening at times but for me I just focus on one job at a time, try not to deviate, one day, one job, before you know it your winning again. Stay strong, keep doing what your doing and Remember summer is nearly here 🌞🌞🌞

[@thriftygreenlife]

Aw thanks so much! It’s only cos you guys keep coming back! Thanks again for your support 💚

[@colinpattison220]

You're an inspiration to many. Well done for being so frankfully honest & open, it's not easy! I've been there eith diagnosed PTSD with then manifested into a bad depression. My wife, family, friends & the love of growing/gardening/allotment saved me. You will be fine, cherish you're children & every day. Stay strong, keep the vids coming & get that book sorted please!👍💪🌱🌼❤

[@thriftygreenlife]

❤❤❤

[@paulwoodcock764]

i,m in, you rock, i suffer with depression, have been tripped of my confidence since returning to work with depression.but i,m a grower of veg and fruit, i,m a rocker , your easy on the eye and you kick arse. good on you !!!! love the shirt

[@thriftygreenlife]

Aw I hope growing stuff is helping you get through life too! ❤️

[@paulwoodcock764]

@@thriftygreenlife it sure is, only trouble is the weekends are too short and the weathers utter underpants ,lol

[@connydijkstra7781]

I also struggel with my self and when I am on the allotment I can turn most times the switch off and not thinking of anything else. But sometimes get overwhelmed with How much I still got to do. Keep on going🍀

[@thriftygreenlife]

Definitely feel this. I need to remind myself to work on a little area at a time and I’ll feel less over whelmed

[@Plot97a]

Thank you so much for sharing your story.. incredibly brave. you have just put the final piece of a very complicated jigsaw as i echo your sometimes unbelievable struggles with mental health. And through the last 2 years gardening has started to fix me.. thank you again for having the ball's to put it out there.

[@thriftygreenlife]

This means so much! Thank you for your comment ❤

[@djdizzyblonde]

Really enjoyed this and very relatable I’m at the beginning of my journey in planting etc. I really was hoping my teenage girls would want to get involved. But no they can’t bare to leave there screens 😫 So just keep for now. It’s very peaceful and healing so I understand your story very well. Very inspiring keep up with the videos I’m a new subscriber and will continue to watch. Thank you

[@thriftygreenlife]

So happy to have you here! I have a teenager too and she might not be interested at the moment I hope one day it might have inspired her a little 💚

[@robineasby5328]

Well done for taking on that company and getting the compensation you deseved. Sorry to hear of you mebntal health problema. Glad to see things are looking better now. Gardening is such a relaxing and rewarding thing to do. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@thriftygreenlife]

Thanks so much ❤

[@chriseverest4380]

I garden to handle grief. I garden to try to believe. I garden because I care. I garden to breathe. I garden because I have hope. Still. Somehow. All things Pass. ❤ ps I love composting as much as gardening.😂

[@thriftygreenlife]

This made me cry! ❤️❤️

[@paulgardiner4214]

I finally got round to watching this video! It's not like you sent me on a wild goose chase around all the social apps or anything! 😂 I've said on insta most of what I want to say in response to your video, but what I'll add now is that it's nice to see an influencer who puts themselves out there. By doing so you make your viewers feel more connected with you. And that's important. And I can assure you the video was bot boring or depressing. It was infact reassuring and inspiring. I do hope you manage to find a way to achieve balance between all aspects of your life and your allotment. And that you continue to post content that has episodes like a TV show!

[@thriftygreenlife]

😂😂 thanks for coming! Lol

[@paulgardiner4214]

@@thriftygreenlife you're welcome! How long until your netflix deal? 😂

[@thriftygreenlife]

@@paulgardiner4214still waiting!

[@robsallotmenteeringblogs2685]

And here you are, being brilliant, recognising that most of the tie it isn't as easy as TV progs would have us believe great stuff, AND I made it right to the end 😁

[@thriftygreenlife]

So happy you did lol !

[@christinataylor737]

Hi there love! Did you know you can pick compost up from your local council tip for nothing? Well - you can fro mine! Also, do'tstress about the seeds. The great thing about May and June is that everything you plant now will catch up. More beans maybe!

[@thriftygreenlife]

Sadly ours don’t offer it for free, it’s bagged up and sold for more than you can get at a supermarket. What a luxury that is for you though! I think I need to resow lots of things that have not done well at all!

[@THETATTOOGARDENER83]

Thank you for sharing your story I do more of the maintenance side of gardening but want to learn about growing and allotments so subscribed to learn from your videos Have a great week

[@thriftygreenlife]

Thanks so much for subscribing 😊

[@THETATTOOGARDENER83]

@@thriftygreenlife your welcome we all share the same passion and can help each other out that’s what I’ve found with KZbin in my first year or so 😃

[@Domini_k]

I always enjoyed gardening before, but my Brother died recently, and to help cope with it I went gardening crazy. Every day I can, I spend in the garden to take my mind off of it and it feels so relaxing and rewarding. Sorry to hear about your story, our society judges and discriminates against people.

[@thriftygreenlife]

I am so very sorry for your loss. What an awful thing to have to go through. I hope gardening brings you some peace 💚

[@KateMason-hv4pe]

I love this and you! You totally rock!!

[@thriftygreenlife]

Thanks babe xxxx

[@DennisD-yv4ys]

Thanks for sharing your story! And its incredibly amazing how theraputic gardening really is! Aside from a few common issues like slugs lol....I'm considering starting down the herbalism rought in my expansion plans 🌱🌱💚💚

[@thriftygreenlife]

You so should! I love a herb patch !

[@gusboylan3916]

Fairplay to you for talking about mental health. Gardening really is a great tonic for your health ,keep going best of luck with everything. ❤️

[@thriftygreenlife]

It really is 🌱

[@barrywatler7482]

Hi ya couldn’t agree more, I am recovering from a brain tumour operation had to learn to walk and talk again still use a walker and I am in rehab, good on you . Take care and stay safe cheers from Australia 🇦🇺🌺🥀🪴🥬🥕❤️

[@thriftygreenlife]

Wow, you’re incredible. I wish you a speedy recovery ❤️

[@RichardJHuntArt]

Thank you for that…. So nice to meet a real person with real issues rather than the “glossy” lifestyles we get flooded with. You are doing really really well! I am so happy that I fell upon your channel. Oh yes and the crops are sooooo damn slow this year……Thankyou

[@thriftygreenlife]

This is kind of you to say! I think if more people were honest we would all feel less inferior to eachother ! 💚

[@DeeDee-44]

I went down the antidepressant route with post partum PTSD, that was misdiagnosed for 10 years. It made it last 20 years. Still have relapses but medication free. These drugs are dangerous with numerous bad side effects & prolong the symptoms & cause damage to the nervous system. It's stuck energy & emotions in the body. There are more neuroreceptors in the gut. Hormones play a massive part to in women's health, especially after having babies.

[@thriftygreenlife]

I only learnt recently of the side effects that happen when coming off! One of the reasons I wanted to stop them. I thought it would be really bad when I came off and I had a rough couple of weeks but I think I was one of the lucky ones!

[@dharmendrapatel1748]

Your videos inspire me.I love your work.Learning in every video

[@baldyoldfart5828]

I don't know if it helps but the range sells compost for 4 bags for a tenner.. I feel you regarding mental health

[@thriftygreenlife]

Thank you! Thats actually a really good price I’ll have a look

[@stevengrantham437]

You are smashing it girl, yes everything seems late this year, I’m trying cucamelons this year, have you grown them? X

[@thriftygreenlife]

I’ve tried with no success! I’ve heard they are rather disappointing in flavour!

[@kilianrussell9509]

It's far better than any tv show... 🙂

[@thriftygreenlife]

Naaaaw 😂

[@tecmow4399]

Wow! That was really courageous to share all that. You’re pretty hard on yourself too. What you’ve managed to do at the allotment along with all of your other commitments is miraculous. You’re sat in a polytunnel that was no small feat in putting back up. Your videos are getting better and better and the thumbnails are too. You’ve done so much but when the weeds and grass grow at a metre per hour it can feel like you’re drowning 😅

[@thriftygreenlife]

Aw! You’re too kind!

[@vanmantalks]

Wish more doctors would prescribe gardening to people before anti depressants.

[@thriftygreenlife]

They really should!

[@RichardTaylorgardening]

I used hypnosis cds for years helped me my plants are also small happy gardening Richardx

[@michaelkennedy8303]

Lovely to hear some of this, always makes for a better connection with an audience when they can relate to the creator I think

[@thriftygreenlife]

Thank you 🙏 it was a tough one

[@irunoffroad]

Stay strong Nikki

[@OrangeSunshine1969]

You’re a superhero 💪🏻❤️🌷🥦❤️🤘🏻

[@vanmantalks]

5:14Yes! Yes you are and do

[@TheDwarfShortage]

Very inspirational story Nikki. Sorry to hear you went through such a shitty experience through no fault of your own. Sounds like you're in a much better place now. Long live Thrifty Green Life x

[@thriftygreenlife]

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger right ! 🌱

[@nandsall9492]

All I can see is courage,honesty,resilience. The most important thing is to know you are on the right path. Gardening on a shoestring is a real test and thats why your final victory will taste so sweet.

[@thriftygreenlife]

Love this so much ! ❤

[@sudhirnaik4751]

Awesome video 🙂

[@thriftygreenlife]

Thanks 😁

[@martinhorridge4794]

Tea/coffee? I think you need a stiff drink after that video. That took a lot of guts to share your story. We'll done you. Carry on lovely lady. I personally plant French marigolds inbetween my tomatoes

[@thriftygreenlife]

Yes! I need to companion plant my toms! Thanks so much for the kind comment

[@danieldunbobbin8804]

composting is essential, it completes the cycle of life and saves £££s

[@ballinamoresquirrel]

why do you need compost if you plant into the ground? Dig the soil, add only a couple of handfuls of compost of manure to the planting hole and that's it. Covering the whole bed with compost is a waste of money. The soil is superior to the compost. If there are too many weeds in the ground than stretch weed-suppressing fabric (£2.99 in Asda) and plant through the holes.

[@thriftygreenlife]

I was thinking I could do this!

[@timweb1510]

I’m stressin, gardening doesn’t work for me. I need something

[@thriftygreenlife]

That’s a shame, what kind of gardening have you tried?

[@kilianrussell9509]

@@timweb1510 Have you seen a doctor ? Everybody is different, meds work and could be essential to getting back on track. Im speaking from experience... Take care.

[@MrSBGames]

You are gorgeous though. Keep doing what you love 👍

[@thriftygreenlife]

Thank you, I will

[@johnbrierley2952]

Self pity is never a good thing, still i wish you all the best😊

[@glassbackdiy3949]

If you want to garden on a budget, you really have to get serious about making your own compost, 60% browns to greens, don't add too much grass unless it's really well mixed with browns, turn it every fortnight, keep it covered, you can't really go wrong, if you're a gardener for work collect materials from your customers, collect seaweeds, I try to add a full trugg every day as a mission, it soon mounts up, a 3 bay system would be ideal (see Tonys pallet design at simplify gardening) when you get more experienced get a compost thermometer and turn by temperature, your finished product will only improve with experience the more you make as you learn when it's too dry or too wet or adjusting the brown/green mix etc. You can do it with a couple of small darlek bins but you'll never be self sufficient until you get serious about it.

[@thriftygreenlife]

I do try, I don’t think I do particularly well lol. But I do try to use what I make. Definitely need to put more work into getting it right, it’s so key!