One of the characteristics of a gardening coach is the open communication, the conversation and the dialog. This is why I invite you to get to know me in the following chat. But, before we continue, let me introduce myself: my name is Salva, born in 1976 and I am Italian….a Southern Italian, from a great island in the center of the Mediterranean Sea.
Where are you living now?
In a small village on the Galician coast where the Costa da Morte starts, right in the middle of the Atlantic climate.
How did you end up there?
We could say because of the love of a woman and a garden. Here I have developed and created from scratch my first real garden, a small space known today as “Jardin Menecha” which I take delight in everyday.
What did you do before?
After finishing my career in Agricultural Engineering, I did a Doctorate in Soil Studies.
How did you become a gardener?
Although I liked investigation and teaching, they did not satisfy me completely. I needed to create and work with nature.
When did you learn?
It is difficult to say. When I was a child I had a great teacher and caring for plants and creating arrangements were some of my favorite games. I remember when I was eight or nine years old I convinced the other children to create a garden on a piece of abandoned land.
And how did it turn out?
I cannot remember, but the surprising thing is that children are capable of creating landscapes and are curious enough to use plants to create beauty. There is no doubt that gardening is innate, like music or art in general. In my opinion it should be encouraged at an earlier age.
What is your idea of a good garden?
A good garden is a garden which is esthetically harmonious and above all functional, one that invites you to discover its beauty and stay. For me a good garden is one that always starts by a smoothly solved problem, because a good project has to, above all, solve problems.
Why do most gardens not work?
In spite of the goodwill and efforts of the owners, due to lack of information mistakes are made which in the long run can turn out to be costly: trees which grow too high, a lawn which is difficult to maintain, plants which have been planted in the wrong place, etc.
Why do most plots of land only have grass?
Many people do not know where to start and think that if nothing is planted it will be easier to care for. A big mistake because the cleaning and clearing of shrub is very hard work.
How long does it take to finish a project?
It depends, in gardening each case is different. Sometimes I limit my work to a few interventions: the problem may be solved by planting some trees to give shade, a bush to protect from the wind, or preparing a small organic garden. On the other hand, a project in a large piece of land which needs a complete makeover can take months ,depending also on the owner’s involvement. This is the peculiarity of the work of a gardening coach.
A gardening coach not only fulfills a project, but also teaches the main concepts and gardening techniques . What does this educational aspect consist of?
I always try to implicate the owners of the garden from the beginning, explaining the reasons why I make certain decisions, up until the final phase where I explain the techniques of how to prepare the soil, pruning techniques, etc. Sometimes it is difficult to work and talk at the same time, but it is always worthwhile. The most rewarding thing about my work is seeing that the client has learnt to look after his/her own garden with great care. This is an essential aspect for the sustainability of the project.
What types of people are normally interested in this way of working?
I have worked with very different people, but perhaps they all have a special feeling in common and the desire to work outdoors, in contact with the soil and plants. Most of them spend a big part of the day in a sedentary job, so a need for a connection with nature and handiwork is understandable. Gardening makes you feel great!
You say that by using this method experiences are exchanged. How is this done?
I also learn from my clients. Working together leads inevitably to conversation and some of my clients have become good friends.
In what way does the gardening coach benefit the project?
The project gains quality for two main reasons: a lot of time is spent in situ to perceive the character and possibilities of the land and, on the other hand, a closer relationship is developed with the owner. When a professional works locked up in a study some important elements of the project can pass unnoticed.
How long does it take to see the garden in all its splendor once the project is finished?
It is evident that the most beautiful gardens are the result of wisdom, sensibility and time. Gardens are submitted to the laws of nature which act according to slow processes, which is why I do not believe in quick results. Nevertheless, sometimes gardens surprise us because they develop quicker than we can imagine. The secret consists in enjoying each moment.
Where are you living now?
In a small village on the Galician coast where the Costa da Morte starts, right in the middle of the Atlantic climate.
How did you end up there?
We could say because of the love of a woman and a garden. Here I have developed and created from scratch my first real garden, a small space known today as “Jardin Menecha” which I take delight in everyday.
What did you do before?
After finishing my career in Agricultural Engineering, I did a Doctorate in Soil Studies.
How did you become a gardener?
Although I liked investigation and teaching, they did not satisfy me completely. I needed to create and work with nature.
When did you learn?
It is difficult to say. When I was a child I had a great teacher and caring for plants and creating arrangements were some of my favorite games. I remember when I was eight or nine years old I convinced the other children to create a garden on a piece of abandoned land.
And how did it turn out?
I cannot remember, but the surprising thing is that children are capable of creating landscapes and are curious enough to use plants to create beauty. There is no doubt that gardening is innate, like music or art in general. In my opinion it should be encouraged at an earlier age.
What is your idea of a good garden?
A good garden is a garden which is esthetically harmonious and above all functional, one that invites you to discover its beauty and stay. For me a good garden is one that always starts by a smoothly solved problem, because a good project has to, above all, solve problems.
Why do most gardens not work?
In spite of the goodwill and efforts of the owners, due to lack of information mistakes are made which in the long run can turn out to be costly: trees which grow too high, a lawn which is difficult to maintain, plants which have been planted in the wrong place, etc.
Why do most plots of land only have grass?
Many people do not know where to start and think that if nothing is planted it will be easier to care for. A big mistake because the cleaning and clearing of shrub is very hard work.
How long does it take to finish a project?
It depends, in gardening each case is different. Sometimes I limit my work to a few interventions: the problem may be solved by planting some trees to give shade, a bush to protect from the wind, or preparing a small organic garden. On the other hand, a project in a large piece of land which needs a complete makeover can take months ,depending also on the owner’s involvement. This is the peculiarity of the work of a gardening coach.
A gardening coach not only fulfills a project, but also teaches the main concepts and gardening techniques . What does this educational aspect consist of?
I always try to implicate the owners of the garden from the beginning, explaining the reasons why I make certain decisions, up until the final phase where I explain the techniques of how to prepare the soil, pruning techniques, etc. Sometimes it is difficult to work and talk at the same time, but it is always worthwhile. The most rewarding thing about my work is seeing that the client has learnt to look after his/her own garden with great care. This is an essential aspect for the sustainability of the project.
What types of people are normally interested in this way of working?
I have worked with very different people, but perhaps they all have a special feeling in common and the desire to work outdoors, in contact with the soil and plants. Most of them spend a big part of the day in a sedentary job, so a need for a connection with nature and handiwork is understandable. Gardening makes you feel great!
You say that by using this method experiences are exchanged. How is this done?
I also learn from my clients. Working together leads inevitably to conversation and some of my clients have become good friends.
In what way does the gardening coach benefit the project?
The project gains quality for two main reasons: a lot of time is spent in situ to perceive the character and possibilities of the land and, on the other hand, a closer relationship is developed with the owner. When a professional works locked up in a study some important elements of the project can pass unnoticed.
How long does it take to see the garden in all its splendor once the project is finished?
It is evident that the most beautiful gardens are the result of wisdom, sensibility and time. Gardens are submitted to the laws of nature which act according to slow processes, which is why I do not believe in quick results. Nevertheless, sometimes gardens surprise us because they develop quicker than we can imagine. The secret consists in enjoying each moment.