Savoring Moments of Adventure | Faith-Filled Home Life, Family Travel & Food

Rhythms for a life well lived

Category: Garden

  • How to Start a Garden for Beginners: 12 Easy Steps to Growing Your Own Vegetables and Herbs

    How to Start a Garden for Beginners: 12 Easy Steps to Growing Your Own Vegetables and Herbs

    Gardening isn’t just about plants—it’s about flavor, family, and a little peace in everyday life. Whether you’re dreaming of fresh herbs for your kitchen, colorful flowers to attract pollinators, or vegetables bursting with flavor, starting your own garden can transform your outdoor space and your meals.

    Here’s why I love gardening and why you might too:

    7 Reasons Why I Love to Garden

    1. Homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs taste better
    Produce from your own garden has a robust flavor that store-bought can’t match.

    2. Gardening benefits your body, mind, and soul
    Time outdoors, digging in the soil, and breathing fresh air leaves me feeling calm and refreshed.

    3. Gratitude for God’s perfect design
    Observing the garden ecosystem reminds me of the beauty in creation and the role we play in nurturing it.

    4. Easy access to fresh ingredients
    Having herbs and vegetables at your fingertips makes cooking easier, more fun, and visually beautiful.

    5. Elevate meals effortlessly
    Fresh ingredients transform everyday dishes from basic to gourmet with minimal effort.

    6. A fun family activity
    Kids love planting, watering, and harvesting, creating memories that last a lifetime.

    7. Life lessons that grow with you
    Gardening teaches patience, persistence, resilience, consistency, and delayed gratification—skills that carry over into parenting and life in general.

    Bottom line: A garden is more than soil and seeds—it’s flavor, family, and a little slice of peace in your day.

    I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my gardening journey, and I hope this 12-step guide helps save you time, frustration, and money. For a more in depth guide, I recommend this Companion Planting book.

    12 Easy Steps to Start Your Own Garden

    Step 1: Choose the Perfect Location

    Pick a spot with at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Make sure water is easily accessible. A garden that’s too far away can be neglected, leaving it vulnerable to pests and disease.

    Step 2: Know Your Growing Zone

    Weather can vary, so find your USDA growing zone to determine the best planting times. Check your zone here: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

    Step 3: Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardens

    Raised beds: Better control over soil, weeds, and drainage; easier on your back; deters rabbits. Higher setup cost and may need more frequent watering.
    In-ground gardens: Flexible for space, rich soil with more earthworms, usually less expensive. Harder on your back, more weeds, may need fencing.
    Tip: Small spaces? Try container gardens or pots.

    Step 4: Plant at the Right Time

    Most vegetables, fruits, and herbs are annuals. Plant fall/winter crops for cool-weather vegetables and spring/summer crops for warm-weather vegetables. Timing is key for success.

    Step 5: Prepare Your Soil

    Healthy soil = healthy plants. Amend poor soil with nutrient-rich compost or high-quality soil like Lowe’s organic garden soil. Maintain soil by adding fresh compost or soil every season. Learn how I prepare my garden for fall here.

    Step 6: Plan with Companion Planting

    Group mutually beneficial plants to naturally deter pests and improve soil nutrients. For example, plant basil next to tomatoes to repel pests. For a full guide, see this Companion Planting book.

    Step 7: Support Your Vines

    Vegetables like cucumbers, squash, cherry tomatoes, and peas grow on vines. Use a trellis, arch, or teepee for vertical growth and better sun and air circulation.
    I used arches for melons and cucumbers, and steel wire mesh for a functional and aesthetic trellis.

    arches

    Trellis

    Step 8: Plant Flowers Around Your Garden

    Flowers like marigolds deter pests, while others attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Strategic planting also improves soil nutrients.

    Step 9: Seeds vs. Transplants

    • Transplants: Tiny plants with roots and sprouts. Higher success and easier spacing.
    • Seeds: Affordable but slower and less predictable.

    Mix both for best results. Planting is a perfect day to involve kids—fun and educational!

    Step 10: Water Regularly

    Water daily for the first few days, then adjust based on season:

    • Summer: every other day
    • Winter: 1–2 times per week

    I hand-water to stay connected with my garden and monitor plant health, but sprinklers or drip irrigation also work.

    Step 11: Manage Pests Naturally

    Distinguish good bugs (bees, butterflies, ladybugs, dragonflies) from bad bugs (aphids, caterpillars, slugs, snails, cutworms).

    Tips for managing pests:

    • Monitor daily
    • Use companion planting
    • Spray with water or organic pest control like Neem oil or Dawn dish soap
    • Remove severely damaged leaves or plants
    • For DIY deterrents, see my recipe here

    Step 12: Harvest and Enjoy

    Enjoy the fruits of your labor! Experiment with recipes, take risks, and savor the flavors of your garden. Ask yourself daily: “What can I use from my garden today?”

    Although gardening may seem time-consuming, with a little planning, patience, and consistency, you’ll learn to love the process of growing your own food.

    Happy gardening! Do you have a home garden? Share your journey in the comments or send me your questions—I’d love to hear from you!

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  • Preparing The Garden For Fall

    Preparing The Garden For Fall

    Out with the Old, In with the New: Creating Space for Fall

    September is one of my favorite transitional months. The days start getting shorter and the anticipation for fall creates excitement and eagerness for the season ahead. While fall may still feel like a dream on those 95-degree afternoons (this is Texas after all), it’s clear that the seasons are changing. The early mornings are crisp with cooler air and our garden is already telling us it’s time to shift gears. 

    After months of battling relentless heat, our summer veggies have finally had enough. The watermelon vines have completely taken over, the peppers have slowed to a crawl, and the cucumber vines are more brittle than bountiful. It’s no surprise, Texas summers are no joke! But seeing the garden wither under the brutal heat of so much sun always tugs at our hearts a bit.

    Still, this moment of transition is one we embrace. Because even as we pull up the last of the sizzled plants and sweep away wilted stems, we know: it’s not the end. It’s a new beginning. We say goodbye to the vines that gave us so much through the summer months to make space for what’s coming.

    Together as a family, we roll up our sleeves and dive into the dirt—revamping our garden beds, refreshing the soil, and dreaming up what fall will bring. Out with the old, in with the new. There’s something incredibly grounding about this process, and even more so when we do it as a family.

    For the kids, it’s a playground of possibility. Dirt turns to treasure as they uncover worms, giant grasshoppers, and leaping lizards. Gloves are optional. Dirty fingernails are a must. Getting dirty is half the fun, and every weed they pull or row they help clear becomes part of the experience. It’s messy, yes—but it’s also magic.

    We’ve learned that gardening creates valuable teaching moments—about nature, responsibility, patience, and change. It also teaches us joy as we discover the perfect ecosystems put in place by our creator, and the role he has given us to work and tend to the land. These moments root our children not just in the soil, but in something far deeper: gratitude, stewardship, and awe.

    When we finish a hot afternoon of garden cleanup, there’s always a reward waiting: icy popsicles and a run through the sprinklers—laughter echoing as the sun dips just a little earlier in the sky.

    As we prep the beds for cooler weather, we’re excited to welcome a new season of planting. This fall, we’ll be growing:
    🌿 Kale, spinach, lettuce
    🥕 Carrots, beets, radishes
    🥦 Broccoli
    🫘 Snap peas and snow peas
    🌱 Cilantro, parsley, dill, and chives

    I’m especially looking forward to harvesting these fresh ingredients and using them in some of my favorite fall recipes—from warm soups and roasted veggie bowls to crisp garden salads with fresh herbs straight from our backyard! There is nothing more rewarding!

    Gardening in Texas isn’t always easy. The heat tests us, the bugs test us, and the soil can be stubborn. But it’s also where we grow the most—not just in what we plant, but in how we connect.

    So as we clear away the remnants of summer, we’re not just making space in our raised beds—we’re making space in our lives for what’s next. The fall garden may be more modest than summer’s wild abundance, but it’s rich with potential. And the best part? We’re doing it together.

    Here’s to sun-soaked days, dirty hands, garden-to-table meals, and the promise of something new.
    Happy fall gardening, y’all!!! 🌿🍂🍧

    What are you planting in your fall garden? Share in the comments below!

    Was this post helpful? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
    Have you visited Rocky Mountain National Park?
    What were your favorite hikes, views, or hidden gems?
    Drop your recommendations in the comments—I can’t wait to hear what made your trip unforgettable!