About five or six years ago, I wrote a tech column about something completely outside my comfort zone: gardening. It started when I was walking to Chabad of Teaneck, and someone pointed out a patch of Zoysia grass. Intrigued, I found YouTube videos explaining Zoysia plugs, reached out to the inventor of the plugger, and even helped improve the tool’s design. That was the beginning.

Since then, I’ve gotten deep into the dirt — literally.

No, I haven’t fired my gardener — we still work together — but now he asks me for tips. I cut my own grass with a GreenWorks electric mower and experiment more every season. When I first moved into this house, we had a groundwater problem everyone said couldn’t be solved. But after planting trees, bushes and shrubs, the issue nearly disappeared. Turns out, the roots helped pull the moisture out; a little fix by osmosis. (Consult your local plumber before you try it, though.)

This year, I built three raised beds, each filled first with horticultural waste — branches and debris — and topped with rich soil. One bed is for tomatoes (some I didn’t even plant), one for herbs, and one for vegetables like zucchini and watermelon. I’ve even got another patch of herbs on the side of the house.

I started seedlings indoors under grow lights, and they did so well that neighbors asked me for extras. And yes, I’ve gotten into baking, too. Every Motzei Shabbos, I video call my son in the IDF over WhatsApp, and we talk challah. He’s an artisan baker, and his advice has helped me improve so much that my daughter requests my challahs when she goes away — and tells me the Stern girls in her class love them.

Naturally, I brought my tech background into the garden. I set up a solar-powered drip irrigation system connected to a rain barrel, so watering happens automatically. It’s like a zero touch deployment, and whether using Intune for Windows or Google Admin Console for Chromebooks, the system works quietly in the background.

Sometimes I lose the little labels on the seedlings and forget what I’m growing. So I snap a picture and ask ChatGpt to identify the plant and tell me what kind of care or watering it needs. Just like I use ChatGPT to test baking recipes or spice ideas, I use it for gardening too. And the best part — it’s all free.

Funny enough, last week I noticed a neighbor had some fancy rain barrels. I asked how they worked. He said, “Honestly? I don’t use them. Do you want them?”

That’s gardening for you. There’s a quiet generosity among gardeners. People offer you seedlings, soil, even lumber. Nurseries sometimes have open bags of soil or peat moss they’ll discount — if you’re there early and don’t mind getting a little dirty. It’s not always free, but you can garden on a budget.

People are often surprised that before summer or winter breaks, I write columns about getting outside and connecting. But with all the tech in our lives, we need reminders to unplug.

My youngest is 20 now, so my summer plan is simple: working. But I don’t want to look back in September and feel like all I did was text and scroll. And I’m guilty; I watch TikToks too. I love videos from Israeli chefs and expert gardeners, and TikTok is amazing if you want to learn. But still: go outside.

For me, it’s gardening. My wife calls it an obsession. I say it’s a hobby. I love sharing it with others. When my little great-nephews visit — they’re 3 and 5 years old — they play in the dirt, and my mother says it makes sense: gardening touches something deep in us from childhood.

You don’t have to go all in like me. Go to the nursery, buy something half-grown, plant it, add water, and watch it go. These days you can even find plants in pre-fertilized soil. Just be sure to watch for pests; I use peppermint spray and avoid pesticides.

And if all goes well? You could end up serving a homegrown 30-pound watermelon for Sukkot. Nothing you buy in the store will taste better.

I’ve also been blessed to work with a trainer, Nikama (Nikki) Bildner, who’s helped me through some back pain. While I can’t overdo it, gardening has become a surprisingly good way to stay in shape. Getting out there, moving around, planting and lifting — by another kind of osmosis — I’ve found myself in better shape, to the delight of my trainer, Nikki.

With Shavuot around the corner, a holiday when we decorate with flowers and greenery, this felt like the right time to talk about growth. Not digital. Real. Tangible. Personal.

So whether you’re in tech, education or just need to get off the screen for a bit: plant something. Water it. Watch it grow. And remember, even the best Wi-Fi can’t beat the joy of watching something thrive in your own backyard.

Shneur Garb is the founder and CEO of The Garb Consulting Group, specializing in nonprofits and education.