On Uncomplicating What It Means to Be a Gardener, Spring Plant Sales, and Local Design Resources.

No. 8 | Spring Gardening in Greenville, SC

Ten years ago I impulsively picked up a 4x4 ft. raised bed kit and some zucchini seeds at a big box store. 

My foodie tendencies were growing, but I’d never so much as kept a grocery-store potted basil alive.

I settled it on top of the grass by the back patio door, and filled it with bagged soil. I planted seeds in all four corners. 

In a few weeks, I had sprouts. In a few months, I had more zucchini than anyone could ever eat.

It was truly that simple my first go-round. I wouldn’t have called myself a gardener—I had just followed an impulse in an uncomplicated way to surprising success. 

I learned something important that first season: Plants want to live. You don’t have to know or do everything (or even most things) “right” to get started. 

I’ve found many people never start at all because it feels overwhelming.

It seems like there are so many rules to learn. There’s science to understand, as well as an archaic language (Latin?!?) still in use by gardeners. There’s a color theory component. There’s a dedicated section on gardening in every bookstore and in every library. There are so many magazines, websites, Instagrammers, podcasts, and YouTube channels providing their perspective.

This can leave you feeling like there’s no middle ground:

“I either have to become an all-out homesteader or I’m not capable of keeping mint alive in a pot.”

But I think gardening can be whimsical and intuitive, and you get to define what it means for you personally. 

You can be unfussy about it and still have a thriving garden. 

So, let me suggest that we redefine in our minds what it means to be a gardener: 

“I grow things” = “I am a gardener”

In my BRAND NEW collaboration with Lib Ramos at Good Printed Things, I’ve written up a simple path—six steps I’ve learned over time that brought me success and joy growing and tending plants without overcomplicating things.

This little zine is intentionally tiny & beautiful.

I’m hoping that at only $8 it’s something you will get for yourself—or your mom, your sister or a friend—and that it encourages anyone who reads it to grow plants with confidence.

I'm thrilled to share "The Uncomplicated Gardener" zine will also be available at M. Judson and other local shops in the coming weeks. And I'm working on a pop-up event for the zine, as well as another spring Plant Swap & Share to announce soon. Stay tuned! 

And THANK YOU for your support. I love seeing the gardening community growing in Greenville.

Spring 2024

What I’m Reading & Listening To

9 Ways to Get Rid of Lawn Weeds Without Chemicals
Tyrant Farms

Favorite Annual and Self-Sowing Flowers
TessaPinner.com

How Pesticide Regulations Fail Pollinators
The Joe Gardener Show

An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace
Tamar Adler

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What I’m Growing

This is a list of just what is actively growing in my vegetable garden right now. I have loads of seeds started, as well, and I’ll add them to my list once they are in the ground. Not counting my chickens, and all that.

• Herbs: Oregano, rosemary, thyme, green onion and sage.

• Garlic

• English peas

• Carrots

• Cutting celery

• Radishes

• Blueberries

• Figs

• Strawberries

• Lettuces: I have 5-6 whole heads of butter lettuce left. Now it’s a race against the heat. We’ll be eating a lot of salad for the next few weeks.

• Kale: I just harvested the last of it, as I saw one was starting to bolt.

• Pansies

• Calendula

• Lavender

• Bolted winter vegetables like bok choy and Brussels sprouts

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Spring Plant Sales

I’m sure there are more! These are the ones I’ve found. Feel free to add to list in the comments.

• SC Botanical Garden
  April 6 and 20

• Mill Village Farms
  Pre-order by April 11

• Spartanburg Community College Horticulture Program
  April 12 and 13, details to come

• Farm in the Wildwood Spring Plant Sale & Farm Birthday
  April 20

• Piedmont Spring Plant & Flower Festival
  at the Greenville State Farmers Market
  April 25-27

• Traveler’s Rest Farmers Market Opening Day Plant Sale
  April 27

• Greater Greenville Master Gardeners
  April 27

• SC Native Plant Society
  May 11

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Resources

Plants Map - Paper Routes - Good Printed Things

A map I wrote featuring great places to buy plants locally here in Upstate, South Carolina. Illustrated by Charis JB.

The Uncomplicated Gardener - Good Printed Things

My zine sharing six steps I’ve learned over time that brought me success and joy growing and tending plants without overcomplicating things. Illustrated by Jennifer Bilton.

Recommended Local Garden Design Resources

• Stephanie at Southern Garden Solutions

• Laura at Front Yard Foods

• Tessa Pinner

• Word on the street is Lichtenfelt Nurseries has a new, affordable landscape design program in the works… stay tuned.

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