For a long time, I never considered myself much of an outdoors person.
Sure, I’d take my kids to the park, but I never really wanted to be outside. That changed a little when I became a preschool teacher. Part of our outdoor curriculum included a gardening section, and it made me start to see the outdoors differently.
Discovering a New Perspective
With the kids, I helped start seeds and grow flowers they could take home. I began to notice how much I looked forward to that part of the year. Eventually, I decided to try growing a few flowers in pots in my backyard.
They died, of course—I kept forgetting about them. But even then, the interest stuck around.
One year, another class had the chance to grow cucumbers outside. I was fascinated.
They really grew this cucumber from a seed? I thought. Maybe I could try this at home.
A Cement Backyard and a Spark of Hope
There was one big problem—or so I thought: my backyard was completely cemented. I didn’t know what I could grow in, so I pushed the idea aside and continued to look forward to the garden curriculum each year.
But in early 2023, everything changed.
A Trip to Walmart That Changed Everything
I was a stay-at-home mom, feeling frustrated and in need of something just for me. On a whim, I took my two-year-old to Walmart and picked up:
- Two blue gardening pots
- A bag of soil
- Sunflower seeds
- Bell pepper seeds
It was something simple I could do with my toddler—and something to help fill the long days.
We planted the seeds and played the waiting game. I was thrilled when they started to sprout. I didn’t know much about plant care beyond the basics: soil, water, sunlight. But each day, I checked on them with growing excitement.
Small Successes and Toddler Troubles
My toddler had other plans. She ripped up the sunflower seedlings, so we only got one tiny bloom. But I protected my bell pepper plant, and it was amazing to see little peppers starting to form.
I joined gardening groups on Facebook, such as Gardening Tips For Beginners, hungry to learn more. That’s when I discovered I could regrow green onions from kitchen scraps—and I gave it a try.
No, I never got a full-sized pepper. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that I had grown something.
Making Space Where There Was None
We had some big plastic tubs sitting on the porch. My husband and I cleaned them out and drilled holes for drainage. I decided to try growing:
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Scallions
Again, they didn’t grow to full size—but I didn’t care. I was hooked. I wanted to keep trying.
Going All In
In 2024, I went all in.
I got grow bags and transformed my cement backyard into a little garden haven. I made my own soil mix and planted so many things. For years, I believed my backyard was a barrier to gardening—but it turns out, it was just the beginning.
A Garden of Joy and Peace
Gardening has brought me so much joy and peace. When I feel overwhelmed or frustrated, I go outside, sit among the plants, and breathe.
The garden reminds me that growth takes time. And sometimes, even the smallest sprouts can bring the biggest sense of calm.
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