What I Harvested on My Lunch Break

A Rainy Day in Georgia

Today has been full of heavy rain, strong winds, and tornado watches across parts of Georgia. Honestly, I thought I wasn’t going to make it outside at all today.

But on my lunch break, the rain slowed down just long enough for me to grab my basket and step into the garden.

And I’m so grateful that I did.

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Today’s Harvest

Today’s small harvest included:

• narrowleaf plantain
• lemon balm
• parsley
• spearmint
• peppermint
• chamomile flowers

Nothing huge.
Nothing fancy.

But somehow it felt like exactly what I needed.

I decided to grab one of my baskets and make the harvest feel intentional and beautiful. I bundled everything up neatly with little ties, and by the time I finished, I realized I had accidentally created something worth documenting.

Sometimes the simple moments become the meaningful ones.

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Gardening and Mental Health

Sometimes I walk outside for five minutes before work.

Sometimes I stand near the GreenStalks while DJ uses the bathroom.

Sometimes I just look around and notice what changed overnight.

And sometimes, like today, I harvest herbs on my lunch break while storm clouds move overhead.

Gardening gives me something steady to return to.

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Gratitude After Rebuilding

After being laid off, I spent a lot of time wondering what my life would look like next. Rebuilding takes time emotionally, financially, mentally… all of it.

So moments like this matter to me more than I can fully explain.

Being re-employed and working remotely has allowed me to reconnect with simple things that bring me peace:

• looking out the window and seeing green growing
• walking outside during the workday
• harvesting herbs I once struggled to grow
• preserving plants and food for the future
• building a slower, softer life one small moment at a time

This season of life feels different.

Not perfect.
Not easy.
But hopeful.

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A Basket Full of Healing

What struck me today is that almost everything in this basket is connected to healing in some way.

Lemon balm for calm.
Chamomile for rest.
Mint for refreshment.
Plantain for care.

Maybe that’s part of why this moment felt so special.

The weather was stormy.
The skies were dark.
I could have spent my lunch break indoors doing any number of things.

Instead, I walked into the garden with my gloves and pruners and came back with this basket.

And honestly?
I think that was the better choice.

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Final Thoughts

Sometimes healing looks like a quiet lunch break in the garden.

And today, I’m grateful I got to have one. 🍄