3 years of Terra Legra!

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As I write, I’m at the dining table on a gloomy March afternoon, drinking a cup of tea (made by my housemate’s 13yr old, result) after a VERY wet and wild day out in the rain. Gardening, of course! Because that’s my literal job! MY JOB! My full time job. I actually can’t believe I’ve been doing this for three whole years. 

I’m a pandemic career-change cliche you see. Cut adrift on furlough (remember that?) I had nothing to do during lockdown. I had an amazing tan (the weather was exceptional), and sure the zoom quizzes were fun, but like many people in the pandemic, I really struggled mentally. I was forced to take stock of my life because I had no distractions - no work, no social life, no extra curricular activities (and I LOVED those). It wasn’t unusual back then for me to be out 4 nights a week, also working Monday to Friday in a corporate job, and generally racing about. 

But it all stopped, and I was suddenly having an existential crisis of “What am I doing? Do I want this life?” which sounds very dramatic. And it kind of was. Some things really helped me during this time. Therapy. Cold swimming. And gardening. I’ve always loved plants and gardens (childhood family trips out were often to garden centres or RHS and National Trust gardens, and my entire family are exceptional gardeners. My grandad even became a gardener when he retired!). I sowed a lot of seeds. I signed up to do an online RHS course. I started gardening for friends. And something clicked. 

Fast forward three years, and I’ve now worked for about 180 clients! There are days when it’s tough - when the Essex clay claims my boots (and soul), or the sun sears too hot, and the ground is as hard as cement. But mostly, it’s wonderful. I’m outside, in the fresh air, hands in the soil, meeting lovely people and helping bring their garden dreams to life (or even just tidying it and taking another task off the domestic list). 

It is a privilege to do this job and I am grateful every single day that I get to do it. Currently, as it’s approaching March, we’re in the limbo time - we all are desperate for the warmer weather, but a cold snap might still come, and my time is taken up tidying, pruning, getting gardens ready and working on a LOT of planting plans to be implemented in the spring. 

Do get in touch if you think your garden could do with a little extra help. Email me at terralegra@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram @terra_legra_. 

And finally, THANK YOU to all my amazing clients who put their trust in me and let me loose on their gardens. 

Rachel xx 


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