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Sustainable Gardening 101: How to Grow Your Own Organic Vegetables and Herbs

March 11, 2025 0

Mr. Sweet Greens (Jayson) and I are deep in it! Deep in what, you ask? Gardening! There’s nothing quite like growing your own organic vegetables and herbs—not only does it provide fresh, chemical-free food for your family, but it also helps reduce waste, lower your carbon footprint, and support biodiversity. Plus, there’s something deeply rewarding about stepping outside and harvesting ingredients straight from your garden!

Sustainable gardening goes beyond just growing plants—it’s about working with nature, conserving resources, and making eco-friendly choices at every step. Whether you have a spacious backyard, a raised garden bed, or just a few pots on a balcony, this guide will help you create a thriving organic garden while keeping sustainability at the forefront.

🌱 Step 1: Plan Your Sustainable Garden

Before planting, take a moment to plan your garden thoughtfully. This will help you maximize space, conserve resources, and create a low-maintenance, high-yield garden.

Choose the Right Location

☀️ Sunlight – Most vegetables and herbs need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
💨 Wind Protection – Strong winds can dry out plants and damage delicate seedlings. Use natural barriers like shrubs, trellises, or fences for protection.
💦 Water Access – Place your garden near a water source to make irrigation easier and prevent water waste.

Opt for Raised Beds or Container Gardening

  • Mr. Sweet Greens built ours for a massive garden that we are putting in here at Clementine Cabin! (Photos coming soon!)
  • Vego Garden Raised Beds – These durable, metal raised beds are long-lasting and perfect for reducing soil erosion.
  • Fabric Grow Bags – A great alternative to plastic pots, these breathable grow bags promote strong root growth and reduce overwatering.

Raised beds and containers improve soil drainage, prevent weeds, and make gardening easier for beginners!

🌿 Step 2: Build Healthy, Organic Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of any sustainable garden. Instead of using synthetic fertilizers, nourish your soil naturally with compost, organic amendments, and regenerative techniques.

Create Your Own Compost

Composting reduces food waste and enriches soil with nutrients. Start a compost bin or pile with:
✔️ Green materials – Vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings.
✔️ Brown materials – Dried leaves, cardboard, shredded newspaper.
✔️ Aeration – Turn the pile regularly to speed up decomposition.

Best Compost Bin Options:
♻️ We have an Aerobin Composter that we LOVE! It’s on sale right now too!
♻️ FCMP Outdoor Tumbling Composter – A compact, easy-to-use compost tumbler for beginners.
♻️ Worm Factory 360 Worm Composter – A vermicomposting system that turns food scraps into nutrient-rich worm castings.

🌼 Step 3: Choose the Best Organic Vegetables & Herbs

Not all plants are beginner-friendly! If you’re new to gardening, start with hardy, low-maintenance crops.

Best Organic Vegetables for Beginners

🥕 Carrots – Thrive in loose, well-drained soil.
🥬 Lettuce & Spinach – Quick-growing, great for containers.
🍅 Cherry Tomatoes – High-yield and easy to care for.
🥒 Cucumbers – Fast-growing and perfect for vertical gardening.
🌽 Zucchini & Squash – High-producers with minimal effort.

Best Herbs for Beginners

🌿 Basil – Loves warmth and full sun.
🌿 Mint – Thrives in containers (keeps it from spreading too much!).
🌿 Thyme – Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.
🌿 Cilantro – Prefers cool weather; grows well in partial shade.
🌿 Rosemary – Hardy and thrives year-round in many climates.

Look for certified organic, non-GMO seeds to ensure your garden is free from synthetic pesticides and harmful chemicals.

Where to Buy Organic Seeds:
🌱 Seed Savers Exchange – Heirloom, non-GMO seeds that support biodiversity.
🌱 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds – High-quality, organic vegetable and herb seeds.
🌱 Johnny’s Selected Seeds – Trusted source for organic and heirloom varieties.

💧 Step 4: Water Efficiently

Conserving water is a key part of sustainable gardening. Instead of overwatering, follow these eco-friendly irrigation tips:

✔️ Water Early in the Morning or Late in the Evening – Reduces evaporation.
✔️ Use a Rain Barrel – Oatey Rainwater Collection System captures rainwater for free, eco-friendly irrigation.
✔️ Try Drip Irrigation – Raindrip Drip Irrigation Kit delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing waste.
✔️ Mulch to Retain Moisture – Use straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves to lock in moisture and suppress weeds.

🐝 Step 5: Encourage Pollinators & Natural Pest Control

A truly sustainable garden works with nature instead of against it! Encourage pollinators like bees and butterflies while keeping pests under control without harmful pesticides.

Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers

🐝 Hostas & Zinnas – Attracts hummingbirds and are adorable.
🐝 Lavender – Attracts bees and smells amazing.
🐝 Marigolds – Repel pests and bring color to your garden.
🐝 Sunflowers – A favorite for bees and butterflies.

Bee’s Wrap Pollinator Wildflower Seed Pack – Grow your own bee-friendly flower garden to support biodiversity.

Natural Pest Control Methods

🐞 Release Beneficial Insects – Ladybugs and praying mantises eat garden pests.
🐞 Use Neem Oil Spray – Organic Neem Oil naturally repels aphids and fungi.
🐞 Companion Planting – Basil repels mosquitoes, while marigolds keep aphids away.

🍽️ Step 6: Harvest & Enjoy Your Homegrown Food

The best part of gardening? Enjoying your harvest! Here are a few ways to make the most of your homegrown produce:

✔️ Use Fresh Herbs Daily – Add homegrown basil, mint, and rosemary to your meals.
✔️ Preserve the Bounty – Try freezing, drying, or fermenting vegetables to enjoy them year-round.
✔️ Make Your Own Tea – Dry chamomile, mint, or lavender for homemade herbal tea.

Sustainable gardening isn’t just about growing food—it’s about building a deeper connection to nature and living in harmony with the earth.

🌍 Grow Green & Make a Difference

Sustainable gardening is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact while enjoying fresh, organic food right from your backyard. By using compost, water-efficient techniques, organic seeds, and pollinator-friendly plants, you can create a thriving, eco-conscious garden that benefits both your family and the planet.

Are you growing your own vegetables and herbs this season? Share your gardening tips in the comments! 🌿💚

Give the Gift of Experience This Holiday Season + 5 Ideas

December 10, 2024 0

Give the Gift of Experience This Holiday Season + 5 Ideas

Hello, Friends! Can you believe Christmas is right around the corner? If you’re anything like me, hitting the mall this holiday season isn’t going to happen! No worries, you can still surprise everyone on your holiday list and those gifts can be eco-friendly too! Read on to discover five of my favorite holiday gifts that don’t require you to even leave the comfort of your sofa.

1. Give the Gift of Experience
One of my favorite gifts to give is the gift of experience. A few years ago I gave the mister scuba diving lessons and this year part of Eben’s holiday gift is art lessons. I have given the gift of annual memberships to botanic gardens and science museums. The possibilities are endless, just consider what your recipient enjoys and go from there.

2. Give a Gift that Helps Someone Else
Have a do-gooder on your holiday list? Consider giving a gift certificate to Kiva – your recipient will go through a list of loan applicants and pick a hard-working borrower to give a micro-loan too. This is a great way to help entrepreneurs in other countries who need a little help, the best part when the entrepreneur pays the loan back, you get to re-loan the funds to another entrepreneur!

3. Give the Gift of Your Time
I was telling the mister the other day that the best gift that I could ever receive is the gift of someone offering to take Eben for the weekend. Since we live very far away from most of Eben’s grandparents, we have never left him for a long weekend. Wouldn’t a romantic long weekend with your loved one be the perfect gift! The possibilities here are endless as well, just think of something that you can do for someone else and wrap that up as a gift.

4. Give the Gift of Nature
I love to receive a gift in the form of a living plant or something that can be planted in the yard. Even better when the plant is of edible variety. Eben and I gave the mister a lemon tree one year as a birthday gift – and it is a gift that he seriously enjoys every day. He is always watering, pruning and checking for lemons – and seeing how much the tree has grown is a delight. Plus, giving him lemonade all year long has been a sweet gift that he really enjoys.

5. Give the Gift of Your Expertise
Are you a fantastic chef? Can you sew a mean pair of pajamas? Are you great at web design? A beautiful photographer? Whatever it is that you are an expert at consider giving that as a gift this holiday season. If you are a fantastic cook, arrive at your recipients home with all of the ingredients necessary to cook a fabulous meal for them. Spend the time teaching your recipient how to prepare and cook the meal and then enjoy it together!

Do you give the gift of experience during the holidays? I would love to hear about the gifts you are giving this holiday season.

Green Your Thanksgiving With Edible, Organic Place Cards

November 16, 2024 2
Styled Stock Photos for Instagram and Social Media, Flatlays, Social Squares from the SC Stockshop

I am having a lot of fun planning how the dinner table will look this Thanksgiving. Especially since it will be super small which means less pressure and more relaxing! 

First on my list of things to do to prepare is to decide on place cards for our tiny family. I really love, love, love these pear place cards from Sunset. I think a beautiful, delicious organic pear with a lovely recycled name tag would be perfect. I am also considering giant pomegranates with recycled name tags attached. (You know how I feel about pomegranates!)

What type of place cards will you be using on Thanksgiving?

5 Eco-Friendly Ways to Plan for Thanksgiving Dinner

November 15, 2024 2

Hello, Friends! I am pretty excited, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. To get you started, there are many eco-friendly ways to green your Thanksgiving dinner – all of which are easier to implement if you plan ahead. Many of these ideas will save you money and time while cutting down on the amount of waste that can accumulate from a big family dinner. Read on to learn my 5 favorite eco-friendly ways to plan your Thanksgiving dinner and start planning today!

1. Decorating 101
You don’t have to spend any money when decorating for Thanksgiving, instead use items that you already have or consider bringing natural items indoors. We always have a handful of pumpkins leftover from Halloween that we use as Thanksgiving decorations. And Eben and I like to take a nature walk to collect natural elements (pine-cones, acorns, branches, and leaves) to display as our Thanksgiving table centerpiece.

2. How Much is Enough?
It is really easy to go overboard when planning the Thanksgiving menu. Consider the dishes that you will be serving and ask yourself if you are making more than is necessary. Choose a few dishes that you are sure your guests will love and skip the rest. Also, consider which parts of Thanksgiving dinner you want to or can afford to purchase organic and whenever possible, avoid pre-packaged items.

3. Consider the Table
Do you have enough dinnerware for everyone at your dinner party? If not, consider borrowing place settings from close friends or family members instead of purchasing new. If you aren’t a china and tablecloth kind of family and choose to go with disposable place settings, choose a great compostable version that is made from 100% recycled materials.

4. Think Seasonal
When choosing fruits and vegetables for your Thanksgiving menu, think seasonal. You want to avoid purchasing produce that is imported from far away. You may consider joining a local CSA for the holiday season – not only will you have delicious, local foods to serve this Thanksgiving, but you will be supporting a local farm too.

5. Plan for Leftovers
What do you plan to do with the Thanksgiving dinner leftovers? If you are planning on sending goodies home with your guests, have glass reusable storage containers ready to go. If you made more than your family can consume, you could donate some of the leftovers to a local food bank, freeze them for later or have a menu plan for the days after Thanksgiving so all of the leftovers will be used.

How do you green your Thanksgiving dinner? I would love to hear – please share your thoughts in the comments!

7 Sustainable Ways to Welcome Fall with Your Family

September 20, 2024 0

 

Fall is my favorite time of year. It seems like we start to slow down as a family and spend more time reconnecting with each other. (This seems especially important now that Eben is off to graduate school and only comes home occasionally!)

Since the days get shorter and it gets dark outside so much earlier, Jayson and I have been using this time to reconnect as empty nesters! Our dining room table used to be filled with card games and brain teasers, but now we’ve been finding ourselves doing puzzles (are we old or what??) and playing Scrabble. The nightly dinners are still full of long conversations and hot, steamy beverages for dessert! (Which is my favorite!)

To get you in the autumn mood and excited about sustainability, check out my 7 favorite eco-friendly ways to welcome fall.

1. Make it Family Dinner Night
One of my favorite fall family traditions is having make-your-own organic pizza night a few times a month. I bought Jayson a Gozney last year as a holiday gift, so our pizza game has been ELEVATED!

There is something fun about kneading the dough, cutting up vegetables, and pulling hot pizzas from the oven. When Eben was little, we’d create sweet, smiling faces, and it always ended in a night of laughter and fun! 

2. Green Your Overall Health
Fall is the perfect time to amp up your healthy lifestyle before winter hits – because with winter comes sniffles, colds, and the flu. You can start by boosting your immunity, packing healthy, organic school lunches, adding some superfoods to your marketing list, and doing a whole-body cleanse. You want to stay healthy through the fun fall and winter holidays.

3. With Fall comes Leaves, Lots of Them
When it comes to the leaves that fall in your yard, how you dispose of them can significantly impact the environment. The best option would be to mulch them and use them as ground cover for your garden. The worst option would be to blow them around with a noisy, emission-polluting leaf blower. If you want to have fun with leaves, consider making leaf prints for your family room, or you can always jump in piles of them.

4. Enjoy Your Natural Environment
A bike ride is one of my favorite ways to enjoy a lovely fall day with my family. We tend to bike a lot more when fall hits! Another fun thing to do this time of year is to visit your local botanical garden – you could try one of these surprising ways to make it a day full of fall fun.

5. Prepare for Winter
Before you know it, winter will be here – and fall is the perfect time to prepare. Now that we live in North Carolina (on top of a mountain), I liked to stock up on non-perishable organic goods, so we didn’t have to go marketing as often. It is also a great time to weather-proof your doors and windows and prepare your garden for the cold winter. I also like to think of fun ways to cozy up our home – this usually means bringing out stacks of books, blankets, and pillows and sipping hot organic tea, coffee, and cocoa.

6. Green Your Halloween
Whether you plan to make your own Halloween costumes and decorations or turn your home into the ultimate eco-friendly haunted house, now is the time to get started. We like to scour our local thrift stores and tag sales for fantastic Halloween decor well before the holiday. It always gets us in the mood for Halloween, and when the holiday comes, we are completely ready!

7. Go Local 
The farmer’s market season in North Carolina is now popping – the perfect time to stock up on those yummy fall vegetables. I love it when the mister whips up a batch of one of his fantastic soups or seasonal salads in the fall using local vegetables from the farmer’s market. And pumpkins from the farmer’s market, oh my, they are my favorite. 

How do you welcome fall with your family?

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