Gardening.

I truly believe that New Jersey is one of those hidden gems when it comes to states. Before I moved here, I had no idea how beautiful it was and that it truly lives up to its ‘garden state’ nickname. I really wanted to experience New Jersey in its fullness, so I started going to farmers markets and visiting local farms. It has been a life changing experience and made for a wonderful quality of life. New Jersey itself as well as my desire to use our land to grow fresh vegetables and herbs for my family has given way to my new hobby of gardening.

The pandemic provided the perfect opportunity to explore gardening and let’s just say I have learned a lot along the way. It was definitely trial and error when I started last summer and a steep learning curve. I had no idea what I was doing but I dreamt of gardens reminiscent of Ina Garten’s, Joanna Gaines’, and Meryl Streep’s character from the movie ‘It’s Complicated’. Their gardens are absolutely beautiful and awe inspiring. While my current garden box is not even close to the ones I mentioned, it is my perfect little start. I have been so proud of simply being able to show my boys the power of a tiny seed and how it grows into something beautiful and sustaining when watered and cared for, reminding them that it is truly a metaphor for life and faith.

Below I will share a few tips that I have learned so far.

Find out your zone. Starting a garden, I discovered that one of the first things to know is your hardiness zone. The hardiness zone determines the survival rate for certain plants and which ones will thrive where you live. Here in New Jersey I am in zone 6b. If you want to find out your zone go to the USDA zone map site and enter your zip code.
Beware of animals and bugs that have no respect for all your hard work! They will demolish your garden in a day after weeks of growth. Have a plan to protect your veggies from the beginning. I learned the hard way the first time I planted when rabbits and a groundhog demolished everything I worked so hard to plant. I was so upset and discouraged. Fast forward to the spring and I found these fencing panels to protect my precious green babies, so far it has worked wonderfully!
Place your garden in a spot where it is sure to get plenty of sun. Sounds like a basic principle but my husband was convinced we should put the box in this shady spot in our yard under a tree. Of course, he was looking out for me because he thought I would want to sit in the shade next to the box. So, when I told him we had to move it, he was not happy about it, but he listened and moved it. Clearly, we were true novices but have learned so much!
Buy your seeds early! Who knew that everyone would be starting gardens!?! Buy early because, seeds go fast. I was encouraged to buy seedlings (a young plant grown from a seed in a nursery) because it would speed up the process. This wasn’t an option for me because when I decided to start gardening I couldn’t find seedlings anywhere and had to start from seeds. Now I prefer it that way, it’s cheaper and simplifies the process by planting directly in the ground. Whatever you decide, plan early and get your seeds well before the planting season. And if you can support a black owned farmer or seed merchandiser, you definitely should – there are so many to choose from, check out this article for a few recommendations.

These are a few things I have learned so far and I know I have so much more to learn. If you have a desire to start a garden, go for it! It is the most satisfying and peaceful hobby, I am so glad that I did it! I use my fresh herbs nearly every day and they make such a delicious difference to any dish. I have only made salads with my harvests but I am looking forward to my first harvest of squash, green beans and bell peppers.

Check out my video of my first garden box below, my progress so far this season, and a few inspiration photos! Just yesterday I had my first harvest and made a delicious salad. Now that I have a little more confidence, I plan to add more garden boxes over time which is really exciting.

If you are a new gardener, let me know how it’s going for you!