Frequently Asked Questions

When most people hear the word "garden," they picture a large plot of land with a bunch of plants in it, usually requiring a lot of weeding.  When I use the word "garden" I am referring to any container, raised bed, or space that you can grow plants in, no matter how much or how little space you have available. I will work with you to design a garden that works for you and is a valuable addition to your space.

I have always wondered why people always plant the flowers in a prominent spot and the edible plants in a hidden back corner of the yard. To me, they belong together!  Many flowering plants are actually very beneficial to your kitchen garden plants, and many kitchen garden plants are lovely in their own right.  And when the beds and structures are beautiful and then they are filled with a beautiful combination of flowers, herbs, and vegetables, the garden becomes something you want to show off and spend time in!  This is my secret goal, for you to WANT to spend as much time as possible in your kitchen garden.  I often even incorporate sitting areas for you to hang out there.  My garden is my favorite place to spend time in my yard, and I really enjoy the butterflies, pollinators and other wildlife that spend time there too.

Raised kitchen garden beds enable you to control the environment of your plants much better.  You get to decide what soil they grown in, how much water they get and even how much sunlight they receive!  Raised beds are also helpful in keeping out unwanted wildlife, pets, or children (wink) that you don't want to have free reign in your kitchen garden.

Intensive planting is simply planting the plants very close together, giving them the space they need to thrive, but nothing more. No wasted space in my garden designs! This imitates how plants grow in nature and allows the plants to help each other out by keeping the soil cool, keeping pests at bay, and also minimizing the amount of weeding required!  The lack of weeds is my favorite part!  This makes your new garden much less labor-intensive for you, allowing you more time to actually enjoy spending time in your garden and harvesting your own home-grown delicious food!

The soil is probably the most important part of your garden!  I use a proven Gardenary soil blend that allows for just the right amount of drainage, nutrition and support for your kitchen garden plants.  Once you get the soil right, you're most of the way to a successful garden!

The answer to this question is completely up to you! It is possible to grow your own herbs, greens and vegetables in as little as a square foot! And if you want more production, the sky is the limit!  My own herb garden is 6 square feet and it supplies me with plenty of fresh herbs all season long, while also being a beautiful addition to my front porch.