Did you know that back in 2005, my husband (Green Growers Farm) and I started growing our food together in a small home garden - also known as a little backyard garden box?

One day, we pulled out one of the biggest zucchini we had ever seen (of course, I made muffins with them right away!)… but, it became something that sparked joy for us both! We were able to take something from seed to food, enjoying the full cycle of our hard work.

Fast forward to 2021 and our backyard garden box has grown to a small farm of our own where we produce organic veggies, herbs, and flowers for our community, friends, and family in central Indiana. Although it didn’t happen overnight and, trust me, there was a lot of sweat and frustration involved - our farm is our pride and joy!

What You Need to Know About Starting a Home Garden

While I love and take pride in how far our little home garden has come, just like everything else, it started somewhere small! And, let me tell you, gardening and farming DOES NOT happen perfectly the first time around! It actually takes time, trial and error, location, types of plants - honestly, there are many factors that will play a role in your success!

With that said, there are a few things that apply to pretty much anyone starting a home garden, so here are the top three that you should pay attention to when you’re getting started - no matter how big or small your garden is:

1. Discover your zone! As stated above, a key factor to your gardening success will rely on where you live. You can discover what your zone is and what type of plants you can grow by simply Googling your city and state’s growing zone.

2. Choose the right plants! It is very easy to go wild with all the varieties, but try to stick with a good handful that grows well together to get started with! This will give you more success as you begin your home-gardening journey.

3. Follow the sun, my friend! Let there be light! Choose an area that has ample sun if you’re trying to plant a good veggie garden. If you don’t have tons of direct sun, think about opting for a garden full of green leafy veggies and herbs instead of things like tomatoes, squash, and peppers.

That should give you a good place to start! Of course, there’s a little more to it - but you’ll discover and learn more along the way, that’s part of the fun! If you have any questions though, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram at @theherbanfarmacy!