Growing, healing and learning through Horticulture

For Conchi, studying a Certificate III in Horticulture at Chisholm has been a life‑changing journey. It has been one that blends culture, wellbeing, learning, and a new career path.

Food and plants have always been part of Conchi’s world. She grew up in a Spanish family, with farming roots on her father’s side and strong European influences through her husband’s family as well. “I was constantly around food and plants,” she says. As an adult, she’s owned cafés, restaurants and worked in hospitality for many years, with food at the centre of everyday life.

After the challenges of COVID, Conchi experienced a period of severe burnout and had to step away from café work altogether. “I couldn’t even take a coffee order,” she recalls. During her recovery, she began working in the garden of one of the restaurants and slowly started to feel better. “Being outside, touching soil and plants, really helped,” she says. “The science is there and I felt it.”

This experience led Conchi to work in gardens and at a sustainably run vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula. While there, she began reading more about plants, soil health, and organic practices. She also attended weekend gardening workshops, learning wherever she could.

One day, while searching online for another workshop to attend, she came across Chisholm. “I thought, why don’t I just study it?” she says. “Within two weeks, I applied, and the rest is history.”

Conchi chose the Certificate III in Horticulture because it offered a strong, broad foundation. “Horticulture is such a big world,” she explains. “This course gives you a taste of lots of areas so you can work out where you want to specialise.” Studying part‑time on the Mornington Peninsula suited her lifestyle and allowed her to truly enjoy learning.

One of the most meaningful impacts has been the example she sets for her children. “Seeing me study and apply myself has been huge for my kids,” she says. “It shows them that learning doesn’t stop.”

Today, Conchi works for a highly regarded garden maintenance company in Portsea and Sorrento, caring for gardens owned by busy families with holiday homes. “Now I think about what makes people want to spend time in their garden,” she says. “That psychology fascinates me.”

Her growth was recognised with a Bronze Medal at the Achievable Gardens competition at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS), a milestone she’s incredibly proud of. “My life has completely shifted,” Conchi reflects.

Looking ahead, Conchi hopes to help shape how gardens support wellbeing. “Every garden has the potential to be a therapy garden,” she says. “I don’t know if that role fully exists yet, but I want to be part of the conversation to make it happen.”

Through her journey at Chisholm, Conchi hasn’t just grown plants, she’s grown confidence, purpose, and a future she’s excited about.