"In one afternoon you will get to know the permaculture garden, enjoy a break in nature as a team and get to know our well-founded concept for developing stronger psychological abilities," it says on our website. We asked Hanno and Lisa how a typical workshop afternoon in the Grome Gardens actually works like this:
Lisa: As soon as everyone is in the garden, our green seminar room, we go through the course of the day and start with a round of introductions. Our events usually start around 2 p.m. and end around 7 p.m. Gardening takes place immediately afterwards: harvesting vegetable beds, building raised beds, pulling out weeds or filling seeds. It depends on what and how much can be harvested and gardened naturally depends on the garden and the time of year.
Hanno: The team offsite afternoons always focus on the workshop element. Soil analysis developed beforehand together with the team in order to precisely meet the needs. The psychological intervention is tailored to current challenges, prior knowledge and interests. Recently, for example, a team set itself the goal of establishing a positive feedback culture.
Lisa: After the gardening, the psychological workshop started. Different elements can be the focus here: reflections in the group, health, team communication, mindfulness or, for example, to what extent mental exercises can improve our well-being and our emotional competencies and all of this improves our open cooperation.
Lisa: The food is prepared into a dish together. We always have cooking experts with us who already prepare a few things during the workshop. It is also important for us to convey that “weeds” can also be prepared deliciously. Many do not know this and initially look puzzled at the group. After dinner, it's usually 7 p.m., but since it's a team event, it's often nice to have a casual chat with colleagues. Open end!
Hanno: In the workshop, practical tools are imparted on how to incorporate the methods into everyday life and about one to two weeks later there is a handout with the de-briefing. However, it is best to book a season after the individual event on which this initial experience can then be taken as a foundation and built on. In this way, the team can continue gardening in the current or next season.
Lisa: If the team feels like it, they can take on their own bed sponsorship, where such events often take place. The bed sponsorship and regular gatherings in the garden offer the opportunity for a lasting change in the team and a deeper bond. The joint garden project also provides a vehicle for psychological interventions. We use the positive atmosphere of the garden for team development and are happy if there is a desire for more gardeners afterwards. In addition to the team offsite afternoons, you and your team can also dare to build and plant raised beds.
