We got a late start this year. Our first year too.

No fancy garden plan, no grand ambitions. Just a few repurposed pots, some good quality, organic soil, and the intention to try. Since moving in, we loved the idea of growing our own food, but honestly, I wasn’t sure what would survive and where to start. For the last five years we talked about it, but it wasn't until late this spring we decided to just put the plant in the pot, watered it, and let nature work her magic.

And now, just a few weeks later? It’s exploding.

This morning, I repotted some herbs that had outgrown their little containers and gave a new home to a cherry tomato plant we rescued from the clearance shelf. As I stood back and looked at everything, lush, vibrant, full of life, I was hit with this quiet awe: this all started with one simple decision. To begin.

No overthinking. No perfection. Just a willingness to see what would happen.

What We Did to Get Started (Nothing Fancy, I Promise)

If you’re curious about how we actually started this garden, here’s the honest truth: it was pretty low-key. We…

• Used containers and pots we already had or thrifted

• Bought just a few starter plants: various peppers, zucchini, squash, sweet potato, herbs. We chose plants we like to eat and use in cooking.

• Used good-quality organic soil and compost mix. We even started composting (bought the bin on Amazon, but you can make your own, or sometimes your city/town will offer an affordable solution).

• Watered consistently (a routine helps more than anything fancy)

• Let go of the idea of doing it right

That’s it. No Pinterest-perfect garden bed, no grow lights, no deep research. Just curiosity and care.

We got this raised garden bed from Lidl about three years ago. We finally put it together and made a mockup of where all the plants would go before doing any actual digging.

A Garden Teaches You to Trust

There’s something about watching a garden grow that shifts you. You see the magic of what happens when something gets the light, nutrients, and support it needs—and when it’s allowed to unfold in its own timing. You build a soft relationship with each plant as you watch it mature and grow. You see problems ahead and learn to plan, prepare, and protect.

It made me think about how similar manifesting our dreams and goals is to starting and tending our garden - patience and love, letting go of expectations, and developing a natural curiosity and to see what happens next, there is something powerful about holding a space for your own harvest in your life.

What if we approached our life like a garden? I'm not talking about just our dreams and goals anymore, but what if we lived each day like tending to the garden, cultivating ideas as they come and exploring without fear or paralysis.

What if you just:

• Planted the idea

• Watered it with belief and love

• Kept it in the light

• Gave it time and watched it become something magical, more than you ever expected

Not everything will sprout. Not everything will thrive. Heck, one of our sweet potato plants was uprooted from underneath, and my spaghetti squash was completely decapitated before it had a chance to grow its third leaf. But some things absolutely will, and they will surprise you with how wildly they grow.

Baby zucchinis, an ambrosia cantaloupe, and little spaghetti squash saplings (RIP). The zukes would have overcrowded the squash anyways so it all worked out!

Your Harvest Is Coming (Even If It’s Still Just a Bud)

The thing about growth is… it starts small. A sprout. A leaf. A seed planted in the soil.

You might not feel like much is happening at first, but keep going, keep watering. Keep showing up. Keep tending to the things that matter - and this includes self-care, creative exploration, gratitude journaling, unconditional love, etc.

Whether it’s a garden, a dream, a creative project, or just working on yourself, you are growing something beautiful. Let yourself be messy. Be a beginner. Be willing to not know how it will turn out.

Just plant it anyway.

The first photo is day one, after everything had been planted and freshly watered. The second picture is a couple of weeks later, as everything has settled in and started to grow and really take off.

Want to Try? Here’s What I Recommend:

• Pick one plant you’re curious about. Bonus points if it’s edible.

• Get a pot with drainage holes and fill it with quality soil. I recommend a self-watering pot for indoor plants to prevent overwatering. Anything with drainage holes can become a pot, just make sure nothing will deteriorate when wet, like chipped paint or rust.

• Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.

• Watch it. Talk to it. Let it teach you. If the leaves start to look yellow, it might need a larger pot. Don't be afraid to specifically Google your plant and its symptoms. There are many resources and apps out there, including plant groups on social media.

• Celebrate the first sprout. And the second. And even the wilted leaves—they’re teachers too. I like to keep a little journal and take note of any changes good or bad. Not only will it help improve my gardening skills next time, but it also forces me to slow down and enjoy the whole process. You'll hear me say, "Catch that slow dopamine." Well, gardening is 100% a slow-release dopamine drip of creative goodness.

💚 What are you planting in your life right now, literally or metaphorically? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

#CreativeLiving #BackyardGardenMagic #JustStart #HarvestSeason #SlowLiving