Welcome to ‘Grow With Us', an initiative where we introduce you to the incredible members of the Rise Gardens team who bring their passion, knowledge, and unique gardening experiences to the table. In this series of interviews, you'll get to know the faces behind the greens and the souls behind the soil. From their favorite crops to the lessons they've learned along the way, each story is a testament to the profound impact that gardening has on our lives. Get ready to be inspired and grow with us!
🙂 Name
Yan Kwok
🌱 Garden(s) Owned
PRG now, used to have a 2-level FRG v1
🚴♂️ Hobbies
Running, Biking, Climbing, Frisbee, Video Games, 3D Printing, Tinkering/Hacking stuff together
🙌 Fun Fact
Used to play ultimate frisbee competitively! and in college I was on the Michigan Hybrid Racing student project team
🥬 Top tip or trick for a beginner gardener
Cut off dying leaves, get a small vacuum to clean up the trays and keep the garden looking nice.
🏵️ Favorite things to grow
Flowers! (the sunflowers in particular)
🌻 Do you have a favorite plant or flower that holds a special meaning to you? If so, why?
My favorite season is summer/fall, and that's when sunflowers bloom. Also I lived somewhat near a sunflower field growing up.
💪 What's the most challenging gardening experience you've had, and what did you learn from it?
Pests... had to cull my plants many times due to aphids/spidermites... learned that
🫶 How has gardening positively influenced your well-being and mental health?
I live in a tiny apartment with not much space, but I dedicate a corner near my only window to many houseplants - it keeps me sane when I randomly decide to be a hermit on weekends and don't go outside. I enjoy watching the plants grow and feel proud of being able to take care of them.
🪴 Are there any gardening projects or goals you're currently working on or excited to start?
I bought an Monstera Albo cutting and I am working on growing it... Spent too much $$$ on the plant hoping that it will survive. Seems like its doing well though now! Still hoping it grows enough that I can get some cuttings and give them to friends / family and share my success.
🌞 What's your go-to personal mantra or affirmation?
If you're thinking about doing something, just do it - time passes too quickly to just spend all your time thinking about something when you could be taking actions and having a new experience.
🧘♂️ How do you unwind and practice self-care after a busy day or week?
If I'm tired I'll probably take a long shower, do a face mask, and stay in to play video games with friends. Or just sleep in and have no plans for the weekend so I can relax and enjoy time to myself.
