It’s no secret: I love to garden. I believe it’s one of the keys to a prosperous life. Want to spend more time outdoors? Garden. Want to eat healthier and stay active? Garden. Want to never stop learning? Garden.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve shared my passion for gardening on this blog to inspire you to grow. During that time, I’ve spoken with many people who’ve told me they’d love to produce their food or flowers, but something always seems to stand in the way:
“I don’t have a green thumb.”
“I don’t have the time or space.”
“There’s so much information out there, and it’s completely overwhelming.”
“I don’t know where to start.”
If you’ve ever felt this way, I want to introduce you to a movement that has empowered me to help others like you: the Liberty Gardens Project.
Whether you’re a beginner dreaming of turning your backyard into your personal grocery store, or an apartment dweller with a balcony and a square foot to spare, the Liberty Gardens Project is here to help you get started. Their guidebook and informative videos featuring experienced growers (like me!) make gardening accessible for everyone.
Like me, the founder of the Liberty Gardens Project, Randy Clark, believes that anyone can grow at least some of their own food. In fact, for most of human history, we did. Let’s take a moment to look back at World War II. During the war, the Department of Agriculture encouraged Americans to plant “Victory Gardens” to ease food shortages and support the war effort. Over the next four years, Americans planted over 20 million gardens, producing 40% of the vegetables consumed in the United States.
Today, we’ve grown accustomed to stocked shelves and a constant flow of produce—much of which was once seasonal. In the process, many of us have hung up our garden trowels in favor of grocery totes. But convenience comes at a cost. By giving up gardening, we lose more than just time in the sunshine and soil; we lose our health, independence, and happiness.
I experienced this firsthand. I grew up gardening with my mom, but when I went to college in a big city, I stepped away from the practice. Without a garden, I thought less about nature and its rhythms. Over time, I lost touch with the importance of nutritious food and the rewards of a well-earned harvest.
Though I didn’t realize it at the time, this disconnect affected my mental, physical, and spiritual health. When I finally began growing again, I rediscovered the vitality and joy I’d been missing. There’s truly nothing like the feeling of flourishing that comes from having your hands in the soil.
If you want to start gardening but don’t know where to begin, the Liberty Garden Guidebook is a great place to start. It covers everything from building a raised bed to creating example crop plans that help you maximize your harvest. Plus, their accompanying videos take the guesswork out of gardening, making it easier to jump in and grow confidently.
As spring approaches, it brings with it an invitation to grow. This year, I hope you’ll accept that call, and experience the joy of gardening, and discover the countless rewards it offers beyond the harvest.
Love,
Leila
