Featured Gardener from Central Florida

Today’s featured Gardener is with My Little Green Garden, selected images taken from her garden.

Where do you garden?

Central Florida, Zone 9b. The climate is hot and humid, but we still get a handful of freezes during the winter where crops have to be covered. I have a small suburban backyard garden, which produces a decent amount.

Why did you start gardening?

I wanted to grow something I could eat. The idea of being able to actually create something that could nourish me seemed exciting. It’s local, it’s fresh, it’s organic – I can literally go shopping in my backyard for a meal. I think as I’ve continued to garden I’ve become a lot healthier. I’m more mindful of what I eat and how I live my life.

What do you like most about gardening?

There’s so much I like about gardening. Being able to grow my own nutrient-rich produce would probably be number one. But then there’s the therapeutic aspect of it. Gardening gives me the opportunity to unwind from a busy or stressful day. I can unplug from electronics and to do lists and just enjoy the moment. I get fresh air, vitamin D, and an opportunity to recharge. There are so many health benefits to gardening, both physical and mental. Gardening brings me peace and joy.

What are some things that you grow?

Mostly vegetables and herbs, but I have a few citrus trees and berries. Some of what I grow includes tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, beets, green onions, bok choy, swiss chard, sugar snap peas, lettuce, celery, kale, basil, parsley, ginger, elderberry, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, lemons, and limes. I’ve also recently become enamored with growing flowers. They help attract pollinators to the garden and I get to enjoy their beauty when I’m outside.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from gardening?

Patience and resilience. When it comes to patience you sort of have to trust the process. You go through the motions of watering and caring for your plants in hopes that someday you’ll see results, but it isn’t overnight. I think knowing how to be patient is an amazing quality that you can develop and apply to other areas of your life.

Resilience was probably a bit harder for me to learn. There are a lot of outside forces you don’t have control over. Sometimes things happen that you haven’t planned for and they can be disappointing at best. Pests, diseases, weather, extreme temperatures… some of it you can prepare for, and some of it just comes out of the blue. You can either waste your time being upset about what has already happened, or you can focus that energy on moving forward. I’ve found the less time you spend worrying about the past, the more time you can dedicate to creating a better future.

What are your biggest successes and failures with your garden?

I think when anyone starts out doing something new there are a lot of “failures.” You don’t know what you don’t know, so there’s a learning curve. I’ve always enjoyed learning and trying new things, so for me I know it’s a process and I enjoy the journey.

I think my biggest failures have been coupled with my biggest successes. Like learning about soil quality and its importance. My first garden was planted directly in the ground, which was very clay-like. And while it was still very exciting for me, my tiny nutrient deprived vegetables left something to be desired. So the next thing I tried was a raised garden bed, which ended up being a great success.

I’ve learned to be more in tune with my environment, like where the sun’s path is in the sky throughout the year and the shadows that are cast during the winter. So my second raised garden bed wasn’t planted right next to a south-facing fence that casts a 6-foot shadow during part of the best growing season here.

I’ve also learned about different varieties of fruits and vegetables and how different varieties do better in different areas and during different seasons. The wrong variety of tomato planting during the wrong season here in Florida is going to give you a completely different result than a variety that can handle the heat and humidity and is planted during the spring or fall. They’re small things that are easily changeable, but they make a huge difference.

I think the biggest success I’ve had when it comes to my garden is community. When my garden started to expand beyond my backyard I started feeling truly blessed, and it’s expanded in various ways. When I grow more than I could possibly consume of any given crop and give the extra away to family, friends, and neighbors – it’s a great feeling to know that I’m not the only one benefiting from it. I’ve had the opportunity to network with other gardeners and learn from them which has helped me on my gardening journey.

And my garden blog has evolved from an online journal to a source for others with tips for beginner backyard gardeners. Learning how to garden is great, being able to enjoy the health benefits is wonderful, but being part of a community and helping others on their gardening journey, now that’s something special.

Thanks for having me as a featured gardener!

Here is where you can find and follow My Little Green Garden:

Website: https://mylittlegreengarden.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mylittlegreengarden/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mylittlegreengarden/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlgreengarden/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLGreenGarden
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyLittleGreenGarden