It’s officially that time of year…spring energy is in full swing, and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably itching to plant all the things. The seed packets are calling. The garden center looks magical. And suddenly that one little bed turns into a 10-bed garden in your imagination.

​

But before you go all in, I want to share the #1 tip I give every new gardener.

​

Start small. Always.​
​

I know that might sound boring or even limiting, but hear me out. Starting small gives you the space to learn, adjust, and actually enjoy your garden. It’s manageable, it’s motivating, and it sets you up for success, not stress.

​

I say this because I’ve lived the other version. The “go big or go home” version.

​

If you know me in real life, you know how desperately I want my own farm and endless growing space to grow allll the vegetables and flowers (it will happen someday!!)

​

Well, a few years ago, I had the opportunity to rent some growing space at a nearby farm. The farmer was turning a spare field into a sort of community garden, and each plot was about 500 square feet.

​

So naturally… I rented TEN.

​

Yep. 5,000 square feet of growing space, when my experience with vegetable gardening at that point was… minimal, at best.

​

Me, along with my three younger kids, headed off to the farm a couple days a week to plant everything we could imagine.

​

And then the rains came.

​
And came.

​

And all my 5,000 square feet of gardening dreams were washed away. What was left? A giant mud pit… and weeds. Lots and lots of weeds.

​

I wish I could say I learned my lesson that year, but honestly? I didn’t. I’m a slow learner when I’m excited, and I was super excited about that garden.

​

The following summer, I actually stepped back from gardening a bit because I was overwhelmed. And that’s when I realized something important:

​

That’s exactly when a lot of gardeners quit.

​

I don’t want you to quit. And I definitely don’t want you to feel overwhelmed. Start small. Start smart. And grow with joy, not stress.

​
Are you starting small this year, or going all in? I’d love to hear what you’re planting, or what lessons you’ve learned the hard way too. Hit reply and tell me what your garden looks like this spring!

​

And if you’re feeling stuck on how much to plant or where to start, I’ve got a few free garden coaching spots open next week. Just reply to this email and I’ll send over the details.

​
Happy growing!

Liz

P.S. Despite the hard lesson learned on that farm, it wasn’t all bad. I did learn a lot about growing vegetables, and these days I manage a vegetable garden at my day job that’s almost an entire acre. I’m so glad I didn’t give up!
My son was actually hired for his first job on that farm. He learned to drive a tractor that summer, before he even learned to drive a car. We lived in the middle of the suburbs, so for both of us, it was a little taste of the life our hearts longed for. That experience only deepened our farming dreams. ❤️

Find me online: Website | Facebook | Facebook Group​