My Green Thumbs: Growing Joy, One Plant at a Time! 🌱
Gardening is my favourite way to unwind after work. Whether I’m sowing seeds, watering seedlings, or checking for pests, every moment spent in the garden brings a sense of peace and purpose.
It’s calming, grounding, and fills me with quiet joy — especially after a long, busy day in the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD).
Proud and planted — Wendy Teo from CSSD beams beside her lush, thriving vegetable plot 🌿
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Thriving greens — Wendy’s lush vegetable plot is a picture of health and care!
I was first inspired to garden back in the 1990s, when I helped my husband and in-laws harvest vegetables at their farm in Boon Lay. That early experience planted a seed in me. In 2012, I started gardening more actively when I was given a plot at a community garden near my home.
A few years later, I also took on plots at the community garden (opposite the Annexe building at work) — and today, I manage several plots there.
On workdays, I usually head down to the hospital’s community garden in the mornings before my afternoon shift. I spend around 30 to 45 minutes watering, pruning, and checking on the plants.
On weekends, I dedicate more time — up to 2 hours to do weeding, fertilising, and pest control. It’s part of my routine and something I truly look forward to.
Hands-on care — Wendy gets down to weeding, trimming, and pest control
I also help take care of the plots belonging to colleagues from other departments. Some of them asked for my help after seeing how well my plants were doing — and I’m always happy to lend a hand. I take it as a compliment, and am happy that they trust my "green thumbs"! 👨🌾✂️🌳
CSSD goes green — Check out the department’s flourishing garden plot!
Sprouting strong — Her seedlings are coming into their own, leaf by leaf
My husband has a lot of gardening experience too, and he often shares tips and supports me. Together, we’ve harvested sweet potatoes and sweet potato leaves. I enjoy growing a wide variety of vegetables — including kai lan, lettuce, kang kong, Hong Kong chye sim, mustard greens, eggplants, ladyfingers, long beans, winter melons, sweet corn, and more. Many of them offer continuous harvests, making the process even more rewarding.
Harvest moments — Wendy and her husband gather sweet potato leaves together
And yes — I do cook with my harvest! Some of my favourite dishes are the simplest ones: fresh greens stir-fried with sambal. Flavourful, fuss-free, and fulfilling.
Fresh from the soil — Sweet potatoes, lettuce and kai lan, homegrown with love
A fruitful pick — Ladyfingers and eggplants, fresh off the vine
One of the best parts of gardening is being able to share the harvest. I’ve given bundles of vegetables to friends and colleagues, and even held a fun “cutting ceremony” with my colleagues for my giant winter melons!
Sharing what I grow brings me a lot of joy — and it’s one of the ways I feel more connected to others.
Greens and gratitude — Harvesting mustard greens with volunteer Siew Hiang
Winter melon milestone — Wendy celebrates the harvest with Dong Li and Kristin Chin
Gathering greatness — Wendy getting ready to harvest a giant winter melon with her gardening buddies, Hung Lea Ping and Kristin Chin
Behind the greens — Wendy hard at work planting and tending her plots
To me, gardening is more than just a hobby. It’s a space for reflection, growth, and connection — with nature and with the people around me. It has taught me to be patient and adaptable. Not everything go as planned — there will be pests, diseases, and unpredictable weather — but growth still happens, even through the struggles.
For anyone who wants to start gardening, my advice is simple: start small. Choose easy-to-grow vegetables, water them regularly, and take the time to learn how to manage pests and fertilise your plants properly.
With a little care and consistency, you’ll start to see your efforts blossom — and that’s where the magic begins.
Story written by:
Wendy Teo
Senior Technician
Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), NTFGH
