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Gavin Matthews

@gavin.matthews6

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Plant Nerd 🌱
11 years sober
Owner/Head garden gnome @artisanhorticulture .
Big weed @gettingintheweeds

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As you can see, I don't really plan these sobriety anniversary videos. I try to let whatever comes up in the moment come up naturally. While filming this one, I was overwhelmed by a huge mix of emotions reflecting on the year that's been.

It has been a year of incredible growth, incredible pain, and everything in between. New colours and textures have been added to my life, while some old ones resurfaced too.

I found my way back onto a dance floor for the first time in over ten years. I started a monthly community event for my industry. I stood in front of nearly 100 people to give my first public talk about plants—equal parts fucking terrifying and deeply rewarding. I continued growing my business, raised over $4,000 for Beyond Blue, travelled to America to reconnect with family and friends, and, most importantly, spent precious time with my dying grandmother.

At the same time, I experienced profound loss. The end of two intimate relationships—one long, one short—both life-changing in their own ways. I lost a mentor and a close friend. Two other friends passed away. I lost my licence. I was involved in a car accident. And those are only some of the more obvious chapters. There were countless smaller moments that carried just as much emotional weight.

All of this deeply challenged the sense of safety I had spent the last decade building. The walled garden I'd carefully created to heal within began to crumble, and some of the poison that had long sat buried deep in the aquifers of my past started seeping back to the surface.

Through this emotionally and physically demanding year, I noticed some old patterns quietly returning. Not through alcohol or drugs—but through the ways I related to myself and the world.

That has led me to reflect on what sobriety really means to me, and more broadly, what it means to live in a culture that seems to cultivate addiction in so many different forms.

Is sobriety the answer?

For me, absolutely.

For many others who struggle with moderation, I think it's worth seriously considering. But that's a choice each person has to make for themselves.

Keep reading in the comments by @gavin.matthews6

10/13 — Years sober vs wasted. The choice that changed my life.

I’m still getting used to articulating myself in this space, so I don’t always get it right — I’m always open to hearing your experiences and opinions.

At the start I misspoke: it does get easier over time. That’s not to say I don’t still have challenges — I do. When I said the suffering outweighed the benefits, I meant that while there was definitely joy sometimes (especially early on), most of the time I was just drinking and using to feel “normal”. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember — alcohol and drugs just took the edge off.

But because it’s your choice, you have the power to change — and you can’t do it alone. Your old thinking got you into the mess, so reach out and get help to change that mindset. There are programs that work — if it doesn’t stick the first fucking time, don’t give up. Give it another crack!

I was lucky to have the support of my brother, who went through his own similar journey and found the right help. I also saw a psychotherapist weekly for years — we’re lucky in this country that these services are often free.

And remember: environment matters. It’s not everything, but it helps you thrive. In horticulture we say, “Right plant, right place.” Put the right plant in the wrong spot and it might survive, but it’ll be stunted forever. Move it to the right conditions and it can thrive. Same goes for you.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported me through this last decade. A few honourable mentions: Damian, Mum, Ma, Pop, Anoushka, Gerard, Tim.

If you’re struggling, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to stay stuck.

Keep going and keep growing. 🌱✨
Gav.
#keepgrowing by @gavin.matthews6

September vibe by @gavin.matthews6

Another little July moment 🌿

Somewhere between the chaos, the cold and trying to keep everything moving, I found a little time to slow down, get outside and breathe.

Turns out touching grass actually does help 😂

Keep growing,
Gavin. by @gavin.matthews6

July moments ✨
Yes, I know we’re already in August—sue me! I’ve had better things to do than keep my online diary up to date 😂

It was also @beabop_foods’ birthday yesterday, so she gets prime spot. Happy birthday to this wonderful human! 🥳

Holiday photo dump incoming! 🌴

Keep growing,
Gavin. by @gavin.matthews6

June moments - Winter Solstice, Good Company and Perspective.

Keep growing,
Gavin. by @gavin.matthews6

Yes I am tree hugger! An i do love my Brachychiton ! Few moments from may!

Keep growing,
Gavin. by @gavin.matthews6

May 26 by @gavin.matthews6

Moments of april! by @gavin.matthews6

Tibouchina urvilleana (Princess Flower) , Native to the Atlantic forests of southern Brazil, this evergreen shrub has become a favourite in Australian gardens for its spectacular violet-purple flowers and long flowering season.

Features: Grows 3–5 m tall with velvety, dark green foliage and produces stunning royal-purple flowers from late spring through autumn, attracting bees and other pollinators.

🌞 Sunlight: Prefers full sun for the best flowering, though some afternoon shade is beneficial in hotter climates.

💧 Soil & Water: Thrives in rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Keep consistently moist while establishing and mulch annually to retain moisture and improve soil health.

✂️ Horticultural Tip: Flowers on new growth, so prune lightly after flowering to encourage a bushier plant and an even better display next season.

"You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago." — Alan Watts

Keep growing,
Gavin – Artisan Horticulture

#PrincessFlower #Tibouchina #ArtisanHorticulture by @gavin.matthews6

Feeling 10/10 after this week, happy weekend sending out some good vibes!

Keep growing,
Gavin. by @gavin.matthews6

These dendritic patterns and this quote speak completely different languages, yet somehow arrive at the same truth.

The branching patterns found throughout nature remind me that everything is connected—our rivers, trees, lungs, nervous systems, and ultimately, each other.

Then there's this quote:

"Everybody wants to save the Earth; nobody wants to help Mom do the dishes." — P. J. O'Rourke

It reminds me that connection isn't just an abstract idea. It's expressed through service, in the small, everyday acts that often go unnoticed.

Perhaps the greatest disconnect isn't from nature itself, but from remembering that caring for the world begins with caring for the people and responsibilities closest to us.

Maybe that's how we honour the patterns that bind us all together.

Keep growing,
Gavin. by @gavin.matthews6