From Garden to Table

If you had asked me 20 years ago what I thought about growing a vegetable garden to feed my entire family, I probably would’ve laughed and said that’s something only people with serious gardening skills could pull off. But after four years of doing it myself, I honestly believe anyone can do it.

I grew up in apartment buildings and didn’t really get close to nature until I moved to the suburbs in my late 30s. Back then, growing a veggie garden felt totally out of reach. But here I am, doing it—and it’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve learned.

So moving forward, in addition to posting more recipes, I’ll also be sharing more about what I grow and how I use it. Some posts will take on a Garden-to-Table style, where I show how I cook with what I’ve harvested. Others might focus purely on gardening—what’s growing, what worked, what didn’t. Even on the recipe front, I might highlight ingredients that come from my garden.

My hope is to inspire you to give gardening a try.

Why gardening?

Flavor and Variety

One of the biggest reasons I garden is simple: I love to eat. And the food I grow just tastes better. Maybe it’s because there are no chemicals or preservatives. Maybe it’s because everything is picked when it’s actually ripe. Either way, it’s fresher and more flavorful.

Even though grocery stores offer a decent selection of vegetables these days, there are still so many varieties you just can’t find—especially ones that don’t hold up well on shelves or aren’t grown commercially. Growing my own has opened up a whole new world of flavors. I didn’t know carrots could be this sweet or that radishes could be so tasty and without any bitterness.

Healthier Eating Habits

My kids love vegetables and are always open to trying new ones, which honestly makes me proud. I think having a veggie garden at home really helps—it’s just a part of their everyday life.

Especially in a place like Texas, where BBQ and meat-heavy meals are the norm, getting kids to enjoy veggies can be tough. But when they see the garden, help plant or pick things, and know it came from our backyard, it feels normal to them. They eat pretty much everything, and yes—there are actual fights over who gets the last radish!

Budget-Friendly

Gardening has saved us a lot of money, especially with how expensive food is getting these days. And with two growing boys who seem to be hungry all the time, that makes a real difference.

We go through a ton of vegetables, and it adds up quickly. Growing our own means fewer grocery runs, fewer impulse buys, and a lot less food waste. We just harvest what we need.

Herbs are another big one. Fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, and mint cost a lot at the store and go bad fast. But now that we grow our own, we never have to buy them. I just cut what I need for cooking. Plus, they’re super easy to grow. My husband even jokes that if we don’t keep trimming the mint, it’ll take over the whole garden bed.

The startup costs for gardening—things like soil, seeds, and tools—do add up in the beginning, but once you’re set up, the payoff is big. We also collect seeds and reuse a lot of what we grow, so it’s pretty sustainable, too.

Convenience

Having a vegetable garden is honestly so convenient. It’s like having a huge living fridge right outside the kitchen. When it’s time to make dinner, I can just walk outside, see what’s ready, and grab what I need. It also saves space in the fridge, especially with herbs. If you cook with fresh herbs, you know how annoying it is to buy a whole bunch and only need a few sprigs—and then the rest goes bad. With the garden, I just cut what I need when I need it. No waste.

Therapeutic Benefits

Life can feel really overwhelming sometimes. The fast pace, the pressure, the constant to-do list—it all adds up. Gardening has become something I turn to when I need to reset.

Gardening is zen. It slows me down and helps me feel more grounded. When I’m in the garden, I’m not thinking about deadlines or errands. I’m just focused on the plants in front of me—checking on new sprouts, pulling weeds, looking for pests, or watching bees move from flower to flower.

It’s quiet and calming, and I start noticing little things I’d usually miss, like a hummingbird zipping by or a frog resting on a leaf. It’s hard to explain, but just being out there makes me feel better.

It’s not fancy or complicated—just something that brings peace and tranquility in the middle of a busy life.