Nurtured Soil is a reflection of my journey with gardening, nourishment, and living closer to nature.
Nurtured Soil began at a point in my life where I am looking for work that feels sustainable — not just financially, but emotionally, physically, and ethically. After years of being home raising my children, I knew I wanted to contribute in a way that honored the life we had built and the values that mattered most to me.
Nurtured Soil began during a season of transition — a time when my children were growing more independent, and I found myself reflecting on how I wanted to spend my time, energy, and creativity moving forward. I felt ready to build something of my own — something that fit within the rhythm of our lives rather than pulling me away from it.
I wasn’t looking to chase trends or hustle for the sake of being busy. I wanted something rooted. Something that grew slowly, honestly, and with intention — much like a garden.
For me, the love of growing food came directly from becoming a parent. Like many parents, I wanted to do what was best for my family. Becoming more aware of ingredients in food and household products led me toward healthier choices, and I began to think more deeply about where our food came from. I grew up with a home garden and, even though I wasn’t interested in it at the time, I always knew there was a difference between garden-grown food and grocery store produce — in taste, in vitality, and in connection.
As I learned more about organic food and large-scale agriculture, I began to realize that convenience and mass production, while necessary for feeding many people, are not always the best solution for optimal nutrition and health. Growing food at home offers something different — something deeper. At the same time, I recognize that not everyone has the time, space, or desire to grow their own food, and that reality deserves respect.
Nurtured Soil started as a place to document my thoughts, experiences, lessons, and questions. A place to gather what I’ve learned through trial and error, success and failure, curiosity and persistence. Gardening, for me, isn’t just about plants — it’s about nourishment, patience, observation, and care.
I love being outside with my hands in the soil, breathing fresh air, and working in my own little sanctuary in the middle of the forest. I love growing food, harvesting it, and feeding my family with it. I love watching bees move through the garden, noticing wildlife nearby, and smelling rain soak into the beds. Nature moves at its own pace, and it doesn’t rush for anyone — a lesson I’m still learning.
This journey hasn’t been perfect. I’ve dealt with yellowing leaves, dying plants, gardens eaten overnight by deer or groundhogs, flowers disappearing before harvest, and seasons that didn’t unfold the way I expected. I wanted abundance right away. What I received instead was an abundance of lessons — things to research, questions to explore, and patience to practice. Over ten years in, I still feel like I’m just scratching the surface, and I love that.
At its core, Nurtured Soil exists because I found something that felt meaningful. Something that supported my family’s health, connected me to the earth, and gave me a sense of purpose beyond busyness or obligation. I’ve never been drawn to doing work simply for the sake of money or following orders that feel disconnected from meaning. Gardening gave me something slower, deeper, and more fulfilling.
I’m not a big social media person. I’m camera shy, not interested in selfies, and the idea of making videos makes me uncomfortable. I could easily stay in my quiet bubble, talking to my plants and keeping everything to myself. But I also know that some of what I’ve learned might help someone else — someone who feels overwhelmed, curious, or unsure where to begin.
This space isn’t about perfection or performance. It’s a place to reflect, organize, and share the things I wish I’d known earlier. And if nothing else, it’s something my children can one day look back on — a record of another part of who I am and what mattered to me.
That’s why I started Nurtured Soil.