Creating My Backyard Kitchen Garden: A Fresh Start

In a family filled with talented gardeners, I've always been the one without a green thumb. My mom's vibrant flower beds shine with color year-round, while my dad impressed everyone this summer with his custom tomato shed. My in-laws' yard is the envy of the neighborhood, and Adam seems like a landscape designer from another era. However, I'm ready to transform my gardening fate. To kick off this journey? I'm launching my kitchen garden.

Beginning My Kitchen Garden Adventure

While I adore plants, my previous gardening attempts have mostly revolved around indoor fiddle leaf figs and a few pots of mint and basil on the porch. I can mostly keep them alive (unless I forget to water them), and I have decent luck with succulents since they thrive on neglect. My father-in-law Gary affectionately calls me "Dr. Kevorkian" because of my tendency to send plants to their demise.

But now, things are changing! In recent months, I've discovered a renewed love for gardening. Here are a couple of reasons why.

1. Embracing the Experience

Getting deeply involved in a significant gardening project has ignited a passion for digging into the earth (with gloves, of course). There's something incredibly rewarding about spending a day in the garden, stepping back, and appreciating the results of your hard work. I've also picked up a lot of knowledge about plants along the way. Gardening is one of those hobbies where the more you learn, the more enjoyable it becomes.

2. Slowing Down

I've come to realize that a hectic lifestyle is the biggest obstacle to nurturing plants, and mine was certainly busy before the pandemic. When your days are crammed, watering and weeding often slip down the priority list, leaving plants neglected. Quarantine has given me more time at home than ever before, allowing me to tend to our outdoor space and find peace during uncertain times. Watering my indoor rubber plant, adding potted greenery to the backyard with Adam, and caring for herbs has brought a sense of calm. It's a reminder of a slower pace, which I cherish.

3. Upcoming Project: Building Raised Beds

I'm thrilled! Few things excite me more than cooking with fresh ingredients. The dream of stepping into my backyard to pick vegetables has always been in the back of my mind (alongside visions of a stunning home and a sourdough starter). We've set aside a spot for two large raised beds, and my goal is to have them ready for a fall harvest. I'm thinking Brussels sprouts, beets, dill, parsley, and plenty of lettuce.