This year marks a decade of Garden Day, celebrated on Sunday, 12 October 2025, a movement that’s become more than just a celebration of flower crowns and green spaces. It’s an invitation to pause, step outside, and reconnect with something many of us have forgotten: the natural, healing power of gardens.
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For Centurion-based food gardener and Garden Day Ambassador Mosa Seshoene, gardens are not just about growing vegetables; they’re a powerful tool for wellbeing, family connection, and community.
“A core gardening memory is growing tomatoes from seed at my grandparents’ farm during school holidays,” says Mosa.
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“We’d dry out seeds from old tomatoes and plant them together. When I came back the next holiday, there it was, a ripe tomato waiting for me. That’s where it all started.”
Mosa proudly describes herself as a third-generation farmer, drawing inspiration from her grandfather, uncles, and extended family. Today, she grows everything from spinach and onions to pomegranates and peaches, both on her apartment balcony in Centurion and on a plot of land in Limpopo.
Alongside her sister, award-winning chef and author Mogau Seshoene (The Lazy Makoti), Mosa uses food and gardening to promote seasonal living. “She influences what I plant; I influence what she cooks. We grow and eat with the seasons, and share it with our community online.”
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Through her Instagram page @Farm_minist_, Mosa is also helping to make gardening accessible to more South Africans. She shares practical, beginner-friendly advice: what to plant, how to care for seedlings, when to fertilise, and how to keep your plants happy and healthy.
“I want people to feel that they can do this — even if they only have a balcony or a windowsill. Growing your own food is empowering, and it’s good for your wellbeing too.”
The wellness power of gardens
While Garden Day is a celebration, it also highlights a deeper truth: gardens are beneficial for your health. Research increasingly shows that time spent in green spaces can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, improve mood, and even support immune function.
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Whether it’s a full veggie patch, a few herbs on the windowsill, or a quiet moment sitting under a tree, the physical and emotional benefits of gardens are powerful and lasting.
Here are just a few ways gardens help us thrive:
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Stress relief, naturally: Gardening calms the nervous system and restores balance, helping ease anxiety and mental fatigue.
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A natural workout: Activities like digging, weeding, and trimming burn calories and keep us moving.
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Vitamin D boost: Time in the sun supports bone health, mood, and immunity.
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Homegrown nourishment: From leafy greens to healing herbs, gardens are a source of fresh, nutrient-rich food.
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Mindful moments: Gardening encourages stillness, reflection, and gratitude.
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Connection and community: Whether planting with neighbours, hosting a picnic, or sharing cuttings, gardens bring people together.
Celebrate Garden Day, your way
This 10th Garden Day, Mosa is inviting everyone to step outside, dig in, and celebrate their green spaces, whether big or small.
From flower crowns to garden picnics, it’s the perfect excuse to gather friends and family, soak up the sunshine, and greet one another with a cheerful, heartfelt: “Happy Garden Day!”
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Join the celebration
To help you prepare, there’s a range of easy-to-use resources available at www.gardenday.co.za — from posters and invitations to step-by-step flower crown guides. You can also download a special WhatsApp profile graphic to show your Garden Day spirit.
Garden Day is all about community and sharing the joy of gardens. Everyone is encouraged to share their garden celebration pics: post on social media using #GardenDaySA or send them via WhatsApp to 074 288 1487.
Follow @GardenDaySA for the latest news, events, and promotions.
Mark your calendar for Sunday, 12 October 2025, and celebrate the joy of gardens and green spaces with your own special gathering.
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