Bridget de' Medici is a multidisciplinary creator blending personal growth, spirituality, and Web3 through her project, The Gardeners. From her unconventional entry into the blockchain space to her transformative journey of self-discovery, Bridget shares how she’s building a mindful community focused on holistic growth.
J: How’s life in Shanghai right now?
B: It’s winter, so pretty cold—around 2 degrees Celsius. I’m staying warm, though. How’s Bali? I imagine it’s much warmer there.
J: It is! Even though it’s the rainy season, it’s been great. I recently moved into my own place, so I’ve been enjoying my island routine.
B: That sounds amazing. I’ve been thinking about planning a trip there myself. I’d probably pick a quiet part of the island—maybe with access to Muay Thai classes or yoga centers.
J: You mentioned being a photographer before entering Web3. What was that like?
B: I ran my own photography studio, specializing in influencer marketing campaigns for mid-luxury brands like Lululemon. Before that, I was a community manager at WeWork, which helped me build skills in managing people and creative projects. Transitioning to Web3 felt like a natural evolution, combining my creative and community-focused background.
J: That blend of skills seems to have shaped your project, The Gardeners. What inspired you to start it?
B: It came out of a period of personal transformation. In 2023, I hit rock bottom after the FTX collapse. I lost my job, my career, and even experienced personal losses, like the death of a family member and the end of a relationship. It was overwhelming, and for a time, I wanted to leave Web3 entirely.
During that low point, I turned inward. I found solace in spiritual practices—Buddhism, yoga, tarot, and journaling. These tools helped me process my grief, understand my purpose, and reconnect with my passions. A key moment was when a friend gifted me a tarot deck, which became a tool for self-reflection. It opened my eyes to how patterns in my life connected to deeper themes, like finding meaning and letting go of control.
At the same time, I started seeing parallels between the spiritual and the technological—ancient wisdom meeting cutting-edge innovation. I thought, "Why can't Web3 be a space for growth, healing, and community?" That’s when I decided to build something that could combine the spiritual and the modern—the wisdom of the past with the tools of the future. The Gardeners became that vision: a project celebrating personal growth and bridging the gap between consciousness and technology.
J: How does The Gardeners work?
B: The Gardeners is built on the idea of cultivating your inner garden—mind, body, and spirit—through a visual and interactive journey. When you mint one of our NFTs, it begins as a seed. Over time, as you engage with the community and share your personal growth—whether it’s through writing, art, music, or fitness challenges—the seed evolves. By the third or fourth season, it blooms into a full plant or flower, representing the progress you’ve made.
The design isn’t just aesthetic; it’s also deeply functional. We’re using ERC-6551 technology to make the NFTs modular and upgradable. This means your garden can grow beyond plants—maybe you’ll add a pet, a castle, or an entire landscape in the future. We’ve made the system adaptable, so it’s not tied to a single blockchain. This flexibility allows us to integrate with other platforms and expand what’s possible as the project evolves.
Community members are rewarded for their growth with tokens, which can be used to interact with AI-driven personal coaches in areas like fitness, mindfulness, or creativity. We’re also working on integrations with other platforms, like music or art creation tools, to make the growth journey even more personalized. It’s about creating a system where your progress—whether mental, physical, or spiritual—is visually represented, documented on-chain, and celebrated by the community.
J: You’ve mentioned plans for real-life events. What’s on the roadmap?
B: I envision wellness retreats that blend spirituality and community, starting in Bali. Each season could be held in a different location—Europe, Mexico, or wherever the community wants. The focus is on in-person bonding, supported by online tools like personalized AI coaches to guide members on their growth journeys.
J: I’m sure these events will involve music too. I know you DJ as well–what’s in your current rotation?
J: Who is The Gardeners for?
B: The Gardeners is for anyone embracing mindful growth, whether you’re a Web2 or Web3 native. We don’t separate people into categories like "crypto-savvy" or "spiritual beginner" because we believe everyone has something to contribute. That said, the project naturally attracts builders, creators, and collectors—people who value creativity, self-expression, and personal growth.
Inclusivity is a big focus for us. The art we’ve created for the project is gender-neutral, and our initial community has already drawn interest from women, non-binary individuals, and artists. We also see a lot of potential in connecting with DJs, musicians, and other creatives who understand the value of blending self-expression with community building.
What’s most important is that you have a desire to grow—whether that’s by exploring your creative side, working on your mental or physical health, or simply sharing your story. The Gardeners is about celebrating those personal journeys in a way that’s both meaningful and rewarding. We want to build a space where your growth, no matter how small or niche, is recognized and amplified by the community.
J: Let’s wrap up with a quick lightning round—dream place for the first retreat?
B: Bali.
J: Favorite place to unwind?
B: Somewhere by the ocean.
J: If you could DJ anywhere, where would it be?
B: Mars.
J: Dinner with any historical figure?
B: Simone de Beauvoir–her book “The Second Sex” has strongly influenced me around feminism, existentialism, freedom, self identity.
J: Anything you want to plug?
B: Follow The Gardeners and myself on X to stay in the loop.
