Soaked in sweat, with ruffled hair and soil marks on her home shorts and T-shirt, she is none other than Ms. Nava.
Ms. Nava is the founder of Nava’s Zen, a one-of-a-kind nature-inspired boutique Zen surrounded by nature and plants, where health and wellness sessions are conducted (FASHION HAIRSTYLES: NATURAL LOOK).
What many people would not expect is that Ms. Nava was once a lecturer in the Australian Degree Twinning Programme for more than 22 years. Back then, she dressed for her profession, walking into lecture theatres and classrooms. Today, she is just as comfortable working in her garden or conducting fitness sessions.
Truth be told,
becoming an avid gardener was never part of Ms. Nava’s plan. Some things in
life happen unexpectedly, and this is one of them. Somehow, gardening has
become a part of her life for more than two decades.
For Ms. Nava,
there is always a reason to step into her Zen Garden. What begins as just 20
minutes of pruning or trimming often turns into hours (URBAN GARDENING BENEFITS), as though the plants
are calling for her attention and care. Although Ms. Nava tries to stop herself
from buying more plants, it is easier said than done. There is always a reason
to visit a nursery. Even browsing online for plants has become a habit, whether
or not there is a plan to buy anything.
Looking back, Ms. Nava is amazed by how much her Zen Garden has grown over the years and the time and effort invested into creating it. Today, the garden has become a beautiful view from her living room, where she continues her desk work while surrounded by nature (GROWING SPRING ONIONS).
A Passion That
Took Root
Initially,
gardening was never a passion for Ms. Nava. It was simply something different
to do and a way to occupy her time. It started mainly as an effort to decorate
the porch and exterior of her home, adding more life and beauty to the
surroundings.
At that time,
her husband was highly committed to his work and business. Instead of feeling
bored or waiting for him, Ms. Nava found a way to keep herself occupied through
gardening. What began as a simple activity gradually became something she spent
more and more time doing.
Her gardening
journey started with trips to the nursery, where she bought plants based on
recommendations. She would fill her car with plants and pots until there was
barely any space left, sometimes even wondering if they were blocking her view
while driving. Once home, she would unload everything herself, including the
larger pots from the car.
At this stage,
Ms. Nava knew very little about gardening. Fortunately, the nursery owner was
generous with sharing gardening tips. Soon, she became a familiar face at the
nursery, building a friendship with the owner and workers.
In the
beginning, Ms. Nava was overly excited about gardening. She often overwatered
and over-fertilised her plants, not realising that plants needed time to adjust
and grow. Too much care sometimes did more harm than good. When her plants did
not survive, she would even shed tears, wondering what went wrong.
However, she never gave up. Gardening continued to grow into a passion and soon became a topic among her colleagues. They were amused by her dedication and often joked about her nursery trips. Some even teased that she needed to buy a lorry just to transport all the plants, pots, and soil she brought home.
When Gardening
Became a Passion
What started as
a hobby eventually became a passion for Ms. Nava. She simply loves spending
hours gardening, regardless of the physical effort involved. Squatting,
standing, climbing ladders, sweeping, watering and tending to plants have all
become part of her gardening routine.
Over time, Ms.
Nava moved beyond growing mainly decorative plants and ventured into growing
edible plants. Herbs and vegetables slowly found their place in her Zen garden.
Only a few decorative plants trailing along the pergola were retained, while
many others were given away to make space for herbs and vegetables.
The plot of
land across the Zen Garden was also transformed into an urban garden, where
fruit trees were planted and are now bearing fruits. Among them are mulberry,
gooseberry, purple mango and banana trees. Herbs that require more space, such
as torch ginger and galangal, were moved to this area. Blue pea was planted
along the fence, and the list of plants continued to grow. Today, the variety
of plants in her garden seems almost endless.
When Nava’s Zen
was established next door to her home, the wall separating both spaces was
removed, connecting the two gardens into one large gardening compound. Today,
even more edible plants, including turkey berry and various herbs, are growing
throughout the garden.
Looking back, it feels as though everything came together naturally. The Zen Garden was already a meaningful part of Ms. Nava’s life, and when Nava’s Zen was founded, her love for gardening naturally became part of the wellness passion too. For Ms. Nava, it feels like a calling from Mother Earth. Her love for gardening today represents one of the best examples of sustainable living - growing food, connecting with nature and creating a healthier way of life.
From Garden to
Kitchen
Growing up,
cooking was part of Ms. Nava’s life. Her Indian mother strongly believed that
she should learn how to cook, and although cooking was not something she
initially considered a passion, she continued preparing meals after marriage.
Over the years,
Ms. Nava developed a love for local ingredients, especially Malaysian herbs
such as lemongrass, turmeric leaves, kaffir lime leaves, sawtooth coriander and
curry leaves. Naturally, her gardening passion led her to grow many of these
herbs and other edible plants in her own Zen Garden.
About three
years after she started gardening seriously, Ms. Nava began her blog as a
platform to share recipes using produce from her garden. Over the years, many
recipes have been shared, and she continues to document her garden-to-kitchen
journey. Around a year ago, she also revived her dormant YouTube channel and
started sharing her recipes through YouTube Shorts.
The concept of
“From Garden to Kitchen” and “From Garden to Table” gradually became part of
her everyday life. There is hardly a day when Ms. Nava cooks without stepping
into her garden to pick something fresh. It may be as simple as a few chillies
or a handful of herbs. When the harvest is plentiful, spinach and other
vegetables make their way into her cooking.
Sometimes, it
is a combination of herbs that forms the foundation of her Malaysian and
Indonesian dishes, which are among her specialities.
For Ms. Nava, cooking with garden produce brings a deeper meaning. The simple act of walking into the garden, harvesting what is needed and preparing a meal from plants she has grown herself creates a sense of fulfilment that goes beyond food.
Inspiring
Others to Grow
Ms. Nava’s love
for gardening does not stop within her own Zen garden. It naturally extends to
her clients, who walk through the garden before entering the eco-friendly
indoor studio.
Many are amazed
by the greenery surrounding Nava’s Zen. Some would stop to admire the plants,
while others, caught up in the rush of city life, may walk through without
taking much notice. For those who appreciate nature, the garden often becomes a
topic of conversation, and many have praised Ms. Nava for maintaining such a
beautiful natural environment.
At Nava’s Zen,
it is not only about health and wellness sessions. Gardening conversations
happen naturally too. Ms. Nava shares her knowledge on what to grow, how to
grow and which plants are easier for beginners.
Plants from her
garden are also shared with clients and anyone interested in growing their own.
Over time, a number of clients have started gardening after knowing Ms. Nava.
They now exchange stories, share gardening tips and become part of a growing
community that appreciates plants and sustainable living.
In her own simple way, Ms. Nava has encouraged others to reconnect with nature and understand that growing even a small number of plants can bring joy, purpose and a more sustainable way of life.
A Garden That
Continues to Grow
Today, the
garden Ms. Nava has nurtured for more than two decades has become a beautiful
sight. During the blooming seasons, the scent of Kesidang/Bread Flower and
Rangoon Creeper fills the air. Neighbours who walk past often stop and tell her
about the wonderful fragrance coming from her garden.
Her Zen Garden
itself has become a talking point in the neighbourhood. The plants have matured
over the years, with greenery spreading throughout the compound. Although most
areas are already filled with plants, Ms. Nava still finds ways to squeeze in
more herbs wherever she can.
Those who admire the beauty of her garden may not see the effort and hours behind it. A garden is not created overnight. Growing plants is only one part of gardening; maintaining them requires continuous care. There is always pruning, trimming, cleaning and moving plants from one place to another as they grow.
With the garden becoming more mature, Ms. Nava now has some help with the heavier gardening work. A gardener comes once a month for tasks that require more strength and energy, while the daily care remains with Ms. Nava.
However, there
are moments when Ms. Nava thinks about the future. If one day she slows down,
who will continue to care for the garden she has spent decades nurturing? What
will happen to the plants that have become such an important part of her life?
While these thoughts sometimes cross her mind, they have never stopped her from gardening. There is still so much joy in tending to her plants. Ms. Nava may not be someone who stands on stages talking about gardening, eco-living or saving the earth. Instead, she has spent more than 20 years with her hands in the soil, learning what works and what does not.
She does not
just talk about gardening. She gardens.
Nava’s Zen and
Ms. Nava represent a simple way of living with nature. Growing food, caring for plants and encouraging others to reconnect with
the environment.
Reflecting on where she started and where she is today, surrounded by nature,
Ms. Nava still finds it hard to believe how far her garden has come. She has
poured her heart and soul into gardening, loving every plant she nurtures.
In return, the plants have given back in
their own quiet ways - through flowers, fruits, herbs and the beauty they bring
into her life.