Joanne Louise Bray

Founder

Joanne: A journey to joy through plants

Life, much like nature, unfolds in seasons. There are moments of light and growth, and there are times of challenges, where everything seems to pause, waiting for renewal. For Joanne, her journey with mental health mirrors these seasons, and at the heart of the healing process lies the profound power of plants.

Born and raised in England, Joanne always had a quiet admiration for nature. Her favourite place as a child was her grandfather’s garden; She would spend countless hours writing poetry or picking the roses to make rose water, much to her grandfather’s disapproval. Yet, like many of us, the demands of adulthood slowly distanced her from these simple joys. With responsibilities mounting up at an unrelenting pace and being a single working mother, the throes of stress and anxiety took over.

It was during a particularly challenging chapter that she stumbled on the therapeutic effects of greenery. Joanne and her two teenage sons had moved home, so she purchased the first of many houseplants, researching everything she could about taking care of it in the best possible way. It soon turned into a healthy addiction that reconnected her to nature. Joanne is an autodidact who enjoys self-learning. She has studied many different subjects that interested her but settled with plants. She left a job that she had been at for over ten years, gradually it had made her unhappy as it no longer fit with her soul, with no financial backing she started a gardening business. Her first project was creating a Mediterranean herb garden. After completion, she wrote a care booklet for her customer that contained each herb and its use in the kitchen and for health reasons. This then spurred her onto to create a course so that others could create their own herb garden.

As Joanne’s indoor garden flourished, so did her understanding of herself. She began delving further into the psychological and health benefits of plants and nature. Studies confirmed that what she was experiencing first hand improved concentration, lowered blood pressure, and was a reason to get up in the morning. Joanne resonated deeply with the idea of “biophilia” - the innate human connection to nature and realised that her journey wasn’t just about plants but about discovering her own roots in the natural world. She began to think about how she could help others with her knowledge, so she created a book on houseplants that are safe for your cats and dogs. Joanne also attended Farmers' Markets, selling plants to the general public, but due to the winter, this had to stop. She continues to grow plants both indoors and outdoors and has ventured into making open terrariums, which she can only sell face-to-face due to new laws introduced in the UK. So if you wanted to purchase one of her artistic pieces that incorporate shells and healing crystals, you would have to go and meet her in person until she can secure a plant passport to be able to sell her plants.

After sorting a cupboard Joanne found an old medical discharge note that stated that her time of serious illness including an ectopic pregnancy(that almost led to death), neurological problems and cancerous cells some ten plus years ago was caused by pesticide poisoning so she began to research all about how gardening could be done in a safe way not using any chemicals, but using plants instead, and this was when she decided to create the membership site. The membership site is very informative about all things plants. She is hoping to create a new website soon that will be able to host a community of people who want to learn or share their plant knowledge and healing journey with others. During the winter months, outdoor gardening in the UK is not a possibility, so she now works part-time within the community. Joanne has a blog that she shares regularly on her social media sites, so you can keep up with her plant and healing journey there.

Joanne is a proud member of Plotsspotuk an online community of gardeners where she is known as a triple threat due to her knowledge in gardening, growing food, and houseplants. She is also a Treasurer at her local gardening club and takes up gardening job opportunities whenever they arise. Joanne also volunteers within the local community, making green spaces more beautiful and helping to make nature accessible to everyone.

Reflecting on her journey, Joanne often draws parallels between her personal growth and the lifecycle of a plant. Just like a seed, she faced darkness and uncertainty, but with care, patience, and the right conditions, she began to grow towards the light. Plants taught her the process of growth, understanding that it is okay to have seasons of rest and to celebrate even the smallest of victories.

Today, Plantlife Joy stands as a testament to Joanne’s transformation and her belief in the magic of plants. Her story is a reminder that healing doesn’t have to come from grand gestures; it can start with something as simple as a beautifully variegated leaf. Joanne continues to inspire others to find their own joy and resilience one plant at a time through her work.