Spirit Gardening: Embrace Wonder in Your Garden

When you step into your garden, do you feel a sense of peace and excitement or do you feel stress and overwhelm? Gardening isn’t just about growing food—it’s a journey, a process of discovery, and one of the most important stages in spirit gardening: embrace wonder. This stage is all about embracing your childlike curiosity and allowing yourself to ask questions. It’s the moment when you realize how much there is to learn, explore, and connect with. In this blog, we’ll dive into why the stage of wonder is essential to your gardening practice and how you can cultivate it to deepen your connection with the land.

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‘Spirit Gardening Stage 1: Embrace Wonder?’

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Spirit Gardening: Embrace Wonder – The Magic of Asking Questions

Wonder begins with curiosity. As a gardener, you’ve likely found yourself asking questions like: “How does this plant grow?” “What can I do with these herbs?” or “How can I make my garden more vibrant?” Asking questions is the foundation of learning and growing—both for your garden and for yourself. The beauty of the wonder stage is that there’s no wrong question. Every inquiry sparks new possibilities and opens doors to deeper understanding. By embracing the magic of curiosity, you allow yourself to explore new techniques, discover hidden gardening secrets, and truly appreciate the process.

Spirit Gardening: Embrace Wonder – See Your Garden Through New Eyes

Spirit Gardening: Embrace Wonder - Light pink flowers dapple a mystical blue and teal nature path

 

When you embrace wonder, you stop seeing your garden as just a plot of land and start seeing it as a living, breathing entity full of potential. Wonder allows you to look at your plants, herbs, and vegetables not just as food, but as unique beings that have something to teach you. You might find yourself marveling at the way a seed transforms into a plant or how the smell of fresh herbs can instantly lift your spirits. Every moment in the garden becomes an opportunity to deepen your connection with nature, encouraging a sense of awe that enhances your gardening experience.

The Spirit of Exploration

In the stage of wonder, the garden becomes your playground. It’s not about knowing all the answers but about exploring, experimenting, and making discoveries along the way. Maybe you try growing a new herb or experiment with a preservation technique you’ve never used before. Perhaps you create a unique recipe using ingredients straight from your garden. Whatever it is, wonder invites you to be adventurous. It’s about finding joy in the journey and knowing that each season brings something new to learn and explore. The spirit of wonder keeps you engaged and excited, even when the process feels challenging.

Spirit Gardening: Embrace Wonder – Wonder is the Gateway to Growth

Spirti Gardening: Embrace Wonder - Garden wrought iron gate with pink flowering plants on either side the whole image bathed in shimmering light

Wonder isn’t just about asking questions and being curious—it’s also about growth. The more questions you ask, the more you’ll discover. The more you explore, the more you’ll find new ways to nurture your garden and yourself. Wonder leads to deeper knowledge and a stronger connection to the land. It encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, try new things, and trust the process. As you continue to ask questions, make discoveries, and embrace the unknown, you’ll find yourself growing alongside your garden.

In spirit gardening, wonder is the first and most important stage of the journey. It’s about seeing your garden with fresh eyes, embracing curiosity, and exploring the endless possibilities it offers. By allowing yourself to ask questions, experiment, and be open to the unknown, you invite deeper connection and growth into your gardening practice. So, the next time you step into your garden, let wonder guide you. Ask yourself what you can learn today, and let that curiosity fuel your gardening adventure.

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The Benefits of Fermentation: A Healthier Way to Preserve

Gut health is a growing concern, with many facing digestive issues and chronic conditions due to an imbalanced gut microbiome. Much like losing a garden harvest to disease, poor gut health can have long-term effects on overall well-being. Fermented foods offer a natural solution to support gut health, improve nutrient absorption, and enhance wellness. Let’s explore the benefits of fermentation!

The Impact of Poor Gut Health

Poor gut health can lead to a host of issues, including poor digestion, weakened immunity, and even mental health concerns like anxiety and depression. Just like a neglected plant disease can ruin your garden, an imbalanced gut can negatively affect your physical and mental well-being. Without proper attention, these issues can worsen over time, making it harder to restore balance.

Fermented Foods: A Natural Solution

Fermented Food

Fermented foods are a powerful tool to improve gut health. During fermentation, beneficial probiotics are produced that help restore balance to the gut microbiome. Foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, and kefir provide the bacteria necessary to support digestion and immunity. Additionally, fermentation increases the bioavailability of nutrients, meaning your body absorbs vitamins and minerals more efficiently.

Fermented foods offer a natural way to enhance your digestive system and improve nutrient absorption. This is especially important for getting the most out of the food you eat, even if you don’t always have access to the freshest, locally grown produce.

Get Started with Fermentation

Fermentation may seem daunting, but it’s easier than you think. We’ve created a helpful guide to get you started with fermenting at home. This guide walks you through the steps, providing tips and advice to ensure success without the trial and error. We’ve learned from our mistakes, so you don’t have to! Whether you’re preserving your garden harvest or just want to add more fermented foods to your diet, this guide will help you boost your gut health with confidence.

1/2 gallon colorful jars of ferments lined up - Fresh Food Journey

Fermentation is more than just a way to preserve food—it’s a powerful tool for improving your gut health and overall wellness. By incorporating fermented foods into your diet, you’ll support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and strengthen your immune system. Start today and check out our guide to take the first step toward better health!

References:
[1] https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-miso
[2] https://www.mhanational.org/fitness-4mind4body-gut-brain-connection
[3] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/ancient-alcoholic-drinks-unusual-starter-human-spit 

Related articles you may enjoy:

Growing Nutrient-Dense Tomatoes
Your 7 Step Food Preservation System
Superfoods to Grow in Your Garden

Comment below and share your funky fermentation stories!

Superfoods to Grow in Your Garden

Why spend a fortune on buying organic superfoods from the supermarket if you can grow them yourself? If you are lucky enough to have a garden in your home, make sure you make use of it and grow nutrient-packed crops that will make a healthy and delicious diet!

Gardening is good for the body and mind alike – taking care of your plants has several proven mental health benefits, while eating organic fresh food is great to keep your body healthy. So, if you have the chance to grow your own crops, why not choose the ones that are the most beneficial for your health? That is right – it’s time to grow your own superfoods!

First, let’s take a moment to understand what superfoods are – these foods (mostly fruits and vegetables) have a very high concentration of nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins, making them fantastic health boosters. However, there is no set criteria to determine which foods qualify for this status – the term “superfood” is essentially an umbrella term for the foods that carry the most health benefits when consumed as part of an otherwise healthy diet. And what else is healthier than homegrown crops?

Plus, growing your own means that you can be sure that your food hasn’t been treated with pesticides, biocides or other harmful chemicals. And the good news is, you can grow a good amount of these superfoods even if you are short on space – as some of them can thrive in pots and containers, without the need for a dedicated spot in your garden.

So what are you waiting for? With the help of this infographic, you can decide which superfoods suit your gardening skills the most, so all you need to do is get planting! 

The difficulty levels are indicators of how much time and effort is needed to keep the crops thriving, as well as how sensitive they are to certain weather conditions. Some plants, like peas and zucchini, are more forgiving and can grow even in lower-quality soil. However, plants like blueberry bushes are extremely sensitive to the type of soil they are planted in – blueberries require well-drained and acidic soil in order to produce healthy fruit.

Some of these plants need to be protected during the winter (lemons and fig trees need shelter from the frost), while others don’t tolerate the heat. It is advised to research your preferred plant thoroughly, so you can be prepared for the possible problems and the ways to solve them.

Don’t forget – anyone can become a gardener, so don’t let the difficulty levels discourage you from attempting to grow a higher-maintenance crop – just make sure you have done your research and are willing to spend time in your garden. Good luck and happy planting!

Ready to get your superfood gardening journey going?

Get the Superfood Garden Summit Best Of Collection!

Get 20 of the best presentations from 9 years of Superfood Garden Summits. Featuring the top experts in the farm and garden community you’ll discover key information to help you grow your own superfoods! Form building healthy soil and small space growing to gardening with bees and cultivating herbs for maximum nutrition, this Best Of Collection is here to help you on your Superfood Journey.

Related articles you may enjoy:

Growing Nutrient-Dense Tomatoes
Grow Your Own Immune Boosting Garlic For Improved Health & Vitality

Guest Article by: Dóra Pista

Dora Pista is a blogger and hobby gardener, with a passion for healthy eating and cooking. She created the infographic above to help beginner gardeners start their journey into superfood growing.

Find Dora on Facebook, Twitter, and her website.

Share with us the Superfoods you love to grow!

The Best Growing Trays for Microgreen Success

Microgreens are a great crop for so many growers. Whether you’re looking to supplement your vegetable garden, wanting to add fresh veggies to your plate in the winter months, or growing indoors because you don’t have outside gardening space, microgreens are a fun and easy crop to grow. But finding a good microgreen tray can be challenging.

How to Choose a Good Microgreen Tray

A good microgreen tray should be food safe, have drainage holes, be non-porous, not be biodegradable, and be sustainable. In addition to the list above, it’s really helpful if all your microgreen trays are the exact same size and fit perfectly in your drainage tray below so no space is wasted and you can maximize your harvests.

“Too often I see students growing in trays that aren’t safe to grow food in or trays that don’t support microgreen growth. A good microgreen tray set up can mean the difference between a healthy harvest or a failed batch.” – Crystal Meserole, Commercial Microgreen Grower.

The Micro-Dream Tray

Recommended by commercial microgreen grower, Crystal Meserole, these trays are truly one of a kind! So many of the trays on the market are downright junk and you’ll be lucky if you get two plantings from them. Not these trays! Meet the most amazing microgreen tray on the market.

 

A perfect size for the home grower, these 5×5 inch trays are listed on their site as ‘Ultra-Durable, Top-Quality BPA Free Plastic Trays…Will last multiple seasons’. This is a serious understatement!

“I bought a batch of 800 of these microgreen trays 5 years ago. After 5 years, I still have most of them in near perfect condition. They’ve been in and out of kitchens, gone through dozens of wash and sanitize cycles, and just as many plantings. These trays are the most superior trays on the market.” – Crystal Meserole

Because these trays are all uniform, you can hone in on the seed amount you need for each planting. No more winging the amount or having to measure different amounts for different sized trays.
While the taller 5×5’s are best for larger rooted greens such as pea, nasturtium, and sunflower shoots, their shallow 5×5 mesh trays are best for small rooted crops like broccoli, kale, amaranth, and more. Don’t let the mesh fool you, these shallow trays are equally durable.

These extra strength 5×5 trays (called 801 inserts in the commercial world) are made of heavy-duty, BPA- free, FDA-grade, polypropylene plastic and guaranteed not to warp or break.

“These trays are so easy to use and clean. I can’t imagine growing my microgreens without them.” – Crystal Meserole

Perfect for Multiple Varieties

Not only are these trays safe and durable, they’re great for anyone wanting variety! Fitting eight 5×5 trays to one 1020 flat, these trays reduce environmental waste, AND save you money.

The design provides better drainage than competing trays, saving you even more with reduced crop loss. As an added bonus, they can be run through most dishwasher cycles with no problem. Say goodbye to flimsy non-sustainable trays for good with Bootstrap Farmers’ superior quality 5×5 Microgreen Trays.

In addition to your 5×5 trays with drainage holes, you’re going to want a flat with no holes to catch water draining out below. Use these for the deeper micro trays and these ones for the shallow mesh trays.

Humidity Domes

Bootstrap farmer also makes a seriously durable dome to fit over the 1020 flats to protect your seeds while they germinate. And the openings in the top allow you to slowly adjust your baby microgreens to your indoor environment.

From safety and durability to maximization of space, Bootstrap Farmer microgreen trays are where it’s at for anyone who wants to grow microgreens as a crop. Whether you’re a home grower or commercial grower, these trays are far superior to anything else we’ve found on the market. See for yourself! Get the 1020 flat and dome starter kit here and the microgreen 5×5’s here.

Related articles you may enjoy:

• Delicious Microgreen Recipes
• Benefits to Microgreens and Ways to Enjoy them

Share Your Thoughts!

How do you like these microgreen trays?

Microgreen Garden… indoors, fast, & DELICIOUS!

Do you have limited TIME and SPACE but want to grow fresh food? You can still grow! Learn to grow your own microgreens. The healthy fast food with flavors galore!

Check out two of my students who are are busting the myth that you need a lot of time and space to enjoy homegrown food. It’s just not true!

Even if you only have a closet or a few shelves, you can get TONS of fresh, flavorful greens on your plate.

Try the nutty flavor sunflower shoots in your next salad, spice up your soup with purple radish microgreens, or add a sprinkle of fennel atop your favorite meat dish—the flavors are truly endless!

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The best part about growing microgreens? It takes just a few minutes each day! You could have a non-stop supply of fresh greens, if you grow your own microgreens. 😉

A lot of people wonder what you can grow as a microgreen. They’re unsure about what plants can be eaten as a microgreen. An easy general rule of thumb is that if you can eat the leaves of that crop, then you can eat it as a microgreen. There are hundreds of possibilities.

What’s more is that there are endless ways to use microgreens. From adding a bit of tart to your salad with red veined sorrel, dusting your pasta with that fresh micro basil (because we all know dried basil just doesn’t cut it!), or adding a handful of that cilantro kick to your southwestern soup, microgreens are one of the most versatile crops you can grow.

Want to try your hand at growing microgreens?

Get Your Complimentary Guide to Growing 6 Easy-to-Grow Microgreen Varieties

Guide to 6 Easy to Grow Microgeens

Related articles you may enjoy:

• The Best Growing Trays For Microgreen Success
• The Benefits of Growing Microgreens & Ways to Enjoy Them

Share how YOU like to use your Microgreens!