Gunjan Koul

My work in therapeutic horticulture began in 2018, during a period of deep personal grief following the loss of my father after a long illness. In the midst of mourning, a dear friend signed us up for a moss workshop–and something shifted. I learned that moss grows where other things have died, that it can thrive on rock, and emerge from the cracks of a city sidewalk. Moss doesn’t rush; it adapts. It persists. That quiet resilience opened a door for me.

Driven by a deep curiosity about the healing power of plants, I pursued a certificate in Horticultural Therapy at the New York Botanical Garden. Since then, I’ve facilitated classes and workshops in a wide range of settings–from correctional facilities and public schools to supportive housing programs–often working with individuals navigating trauma, transitions, or limited resources.

I’ve had the privilege of supporting programs like the GreenHouse Project at Rikers Island, Sprout by Design across NYC’s youth detention centers, and the Conservation in Prisons Project in New Mexico. These experiences have shaped the way I teach and hold space–gently, intentionally, and with an understanding that growth can take many forms.

With Seed & Bloom, I bring together my backgrounds in nursing, horticulture, and education to offer accessible, inclusive classes in gardening, cooking, and environmental care. I believe that tending the soil can help us tend ourselves–and that everyone deserves a safe space to learn, connect, and bloom at their own pace.

When I’m not in the classroom or the garden, you’ll likely find me at the movies, on the tennis court, or cooking something nourishing in my kitchen.