Home Gardener’s
Weekly
Issue
No. 152
December
19, 2025
Do You Have to Be 100% Committed to Have a Successful Garden?
Do you ever feel like you have to be all in to be a “real” gardener — or risk falling behind?
This week on the blog, we’re talking about the myth of 100% garden commitment and why successful gardening has far more to do with alignment than perfection.
Whether you’re tending a few herbs or managing a full garden, this post offers permission to garden at your pace — without guilt or overwhelm.
Guide to Healing Stubborn Health Conditions
As much as we crave convenience in today’s world, nothing beats a home-cooked meal—especially one that’s packed with nutrients and supports your body’s natural healing.
That’s why we’re so excited to share this free eBook; Guide to Healing Stubborn Health Conditions … this will not only expand your recipe repertoire but also equip you with a practical healthy shopping list to take to the store. With this guide in hand, you’ll have the tools you need to make healthy eating simple, accessible, and delicious.
Inside this jam-packed eBook, you’ll find everything you need to start nourishing your body immediately:
• Supermarket shopping guide – know exactly which foods to choose (and which to skip) for optimal health
• Fridge audit checklist – clean out the items holding you back
• Nutrient list – easy-to-find foods that help your body heal
• 10 principles of healthy eating – print them and pin them on your fridge!
• Supplement plan – share with your medical team for guidance
• 11 nourishing recipes – including Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry, Power Protein Superfood Smoothie, and more
• Lifestyle tips – actionable steps to support your healing journey today
This guide is designed to make healthy eating approachable, actionable, and enjoyable—so you can take control of your wellness, one meal at a time.
When you download the guide, you will also get free access to their 7-Day Healing Series. This online event brings together 21 expert-led masterclasses, designed to help you move from symptom-managed to symptom-free – naturally.
🎁 Green Friday Specials 🎁
Good news! We’re extending our Green Friday Sale through Christmas Day, December 25 🎄.
That means you still have time to gift yourself (or a fellow gardener) the resources and inspiration to grow more food, confidence, and abundance—now and into the new year. Enjoy the savings while they last!
Garden Jumpstart System – 60% Off
Ready to stop dreaming about a thriving vegetable garden and start growing one with confidence and joy?
The Garden Jumpstart System is your all‑in‑one shortcut to success: lifetime access to the full Garden Freedom Series + Fresh Food Essentials courses, a ready‑to‑use 40‑day grow plan, step‑by‑step guidance to choose the right crops and garden layout for your space, and even a 2‑month membership in our supportive Harvest Club (live Q&A, growing community, and ongoing garden support).
Beginner Crop Planning – 50% Off
Feeling overwhelmed about what to plant, when, and where?
The Beginner Crop Planning Course takes the guesswork out of your garden so you can plan with confidence and clarity. You’ll learn how to choose the right crops for your space and goals, map out your garden layout — whether raised beds, containers, or traditional soil — and build a full-season planting and harvest calendar tailored to your local climate.
Funky Fermentation
— 50% Off
Ready to turn your extra garden bounty into flavorful, gut‑healthy staples?
The Funky Fermentation Micro Course gives you lifetime access to a course with easy-to-follow video lessons and step‑by‑step guides for safe lacto‑fermentation, making fermented vegetables, chutneys, jams, sauces, and homemade vinegars. Learn food‑safety basics, how to choose the right tools, how to tell when a ferment is ready, and how to store your ferments so they stay delicious for months.
🎁 Give the Gift of Gardening & Fresh Food 🎁
Whether you’re treating yourself or looking for the perfect gift for someone who loves fresh, homegrown food, these courses are a gift that keeps on giving.
Imagine the joy of planning a thriving garden, enjoying flavorful ferments, and savoring fresh, healthy meals all year long — for yourself, your family, or a friend who would love to grow their own food.
Make Green Friday a day to grow, nourish, and share!
Gift Note 🎁 If you’re giving this as a gift, simply forward your receipt to support@growyourownvegetables.org along with the recipient’s name and email. We’ll make sure they get access to their course and all the resources they need to enjoy it.
Weekly Garden Tip
If you’re low on indoor space but you want to grow food, a grow tower is a very popular method and can give you a lot of food in a tiny space.
The Garden Tower2 is a great choice. While it’s a bit of an investment, it could pay for itself in just one winter. [See email for your $50 discount code]
Free Resource
Types of Seeds
Seeds are the essence of the nourishment you want to grow from your garden—but understanding the different types can feel confusing. How do hybrids differ from heirlooms? What about GMOs vs open-pollinated seeds?
To help, we’ve created a Types of Seeds guide for easy reference. Learn the main seed types and the shopping lingo so you can make choices aligned with your values.
Here’s what you’ll discover:
🌱 Conventional vs. organic
🌰 Open-pollinated & true-to-type
🌱 Heirloom & hybrid
🌰 Patented seeds & GMOs
Keep this guide handy in your garden folder so it’s easy to reference whenever you shop for seeds or plan your garden. Seed ordering will be here before you know it!
What: Thriving Gardener Masterclass ❄️ The Winter Garden Advantage: Taste, Magic & Abundance
Who: Stacey Murphy, Founder of Grow Your Own Vegetables
When: Watch Now!
What a beautiful way to celebrate December in the garden. This month’s Thriving Gardener Masterclass ❄️ The Winter Garden Advantage: Taste, Magic & Abundance.
Join us for inspiration and practical tips on growing flavorful food indoors and out, even in the darker months. This masterclass is filled with simple winter growing strategies, gentle seasonal rhythms, and a reminder that your garden can bring calm, connection, and abundance all winter long.
What: The Magic of Microgreens
Who: Grow Your Own Vegetables
When: December 29-31, 2025
Looking for an easy way to boost your health this winter, right from your kitchen? 🌱
Join us December 29–31 for an event all about microgreens: tiny greens with big benefits. Learn how to grow fresh, nutrient-packed food indoors, discover creative and delicious ways to use it, and get step-by-step guidance from expert microgreen grower Crystal Meserole. It’s simple, energizing, and perfect for anyone who wants more vitality, flavor, and confidence growing food at home.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN HARVEST CLUB
We’ve introduced a new section inside Harvest Club called Thriving Gardener—a growing library of practical, empowering trainings to help you build resilient, abundant gardens in every season and climate. New classes will be added monthly, starting with Water Harvesting with Greg Peterson, now available to watch.
To access this new section, log into your portal and click here.
Not a member yet? Harvest Club has tons of resources to help you thrive. Plus, you get access to ongoing garden support through email. Learn more and join us here.
High Mowing Organic Seeds 100% Organic Non-GMO
If you’re ready to stock up for the next growing season, check out High Mowing Organic Seeds!
They offer over 750 varieties of 100 % certified-organic, non-GMO seeds — from vegetables and herbs to flowers and fruits — all bred and tested to thrive under organic conditions.
Whether you’re planting for spring, planning your indoor microgreen setup, or prepping a full garden — it’s an easy, reliable way to get high-quality seeds delivered straight to your door.
Dear Arti:
Question: When attempting to plant pest-deterrent flowers/herbs and crops together, how many deterrent plants do you need? What’s a good estimate? – Andrea F., St Louis, MS
Answer: Hi Andrea,
So glad you asked! We lump together deterrent plants and beneficial plants that invite beneficials into your garden. And as a rule of thumb, 30% of your garden should be perennial herbs and flowers.
But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your harvest! There are MANY beneficial herbs and flowers that are also edible.
And a good strategy is to plant them around the perimeter of your garden as well as on the edges of beds.
I hope that helps, Andrea!
📣 Our Brand-New Grow Your Own Vegetables Skool Community Is Here!
If you haven’t heard of Skool yet, it’s a beautifully streamlined online learning and community platform designed to help you stay engaged, keep learning, and connect with like-minded gardeners in an easy, clutter-free environment.
What You’ll Find Inside Our Skool:
• A fresh, modern home for garden conversations
• A space to continue your learning with tips, discussions, posts, and guided resources
• Easy interaction with your fellow gardeners
• A supportive environment to share wins, ask questions, and stay inspired
Think of it as your new go-to garden hangout: simpler, more interactive, and built to support your garden journey year-round.
We have some exciting things planned with this community … come join the fun!
Connect with us:
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