Growing Roots
Alex Sakamoto Floral arrangement by Turbow
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n the heart of tech, there lives a garden that grows a spectrum of flowers of every shape and color. Glowing pink dahlias spring out of the bushes and equally vibrant blooms of variegated petals creep out into the cozy space. Countless blossom varieties are grown from the dry earth beneath. Looking into the nursery of flowers, it’s as if one had walked into a rainbow of riches. Each flower represents hours of love and care required to grow from the soil of Los Altos Hills. From the climbing windows of the estate, the view is littered with bursts of color that speckle the grounds. At the center of it all lies Charmaine Turbow, the Head Farmette of Turbow Farms — practicing chiropractor, mother, and wife. She, much like the flowers she cultivates, draws you to escape the real world with her charming personality and razorsharp wit. From the early mornings into the late afternoons, Charmaine lovingly tends to her plot with occasional help with her family of five. Sporting a handmade Turbow Farms hoodie and signature green leggings, she begins her harvest as the
doors to jam-packed office buildings creak open just 15 minutes away. Today, especially in Silicon Valley, the addiction to screens and constant, competitive work culture plague thousands. This hustle culture is centered around maximizing productivity, ignoring the resulting stress and burnout that isolates workers, and perpetuates a sense of constant competition. Turbow notes the similarities to the chronic pain her chiropractic patients experience, with the stress of constantly trying to hustle in the workplace: “We all kind of grin and bear it and our bodies have just gotten used to accommodating the pain and just moving forward and moving on…” In contrast, Turbow’s micro farm challenges the industry giants that surround her through her community-centered events that promote togetherness and relaxation. At Turbow Farms, all one needs to worry about is tending to the garden — nourishing the plant life, and in return, nourishing themselves. She explains that, similar