We bought our home in 2017. It was a total fixer upper, every square inch, and the yards were a mess. My husband and I are both architects so we saw something more. We saw potential. Just over a quarter acre, the space became our canvas. Over the years, we have scraped and sifted, filled and reshaped the land with our own hands. It has taken time, effort, and a lot of determination.
This transformation did not happen overnight. It came together slowly, through steady work and a clear vision. What was once neglected is now a place we love, a space that reflects who we are and what we value. Our backyard is more than a project. It is our little piece of paradise, built with care, persistence, and pride.
My story.
What started off as a little dare to myself grew into an obsession. I've always loved vegetable gardening. Back in 2013 I completed a program in San Francisco called "Get Up" by the Garden for the Environment on organic farming. And as an 'Alone' fan, I decided one day to try to only eat food from my garden for a week, and whatever I could barter with my neighbors. I started a facebook page just to post videos of what I called the "Homegrown Challenge" my daily conversations with my phone, recording my experience.
After a week, I noticed a huge change with my body, as well as, I learned that planting 30 zucchini plants is not the way to go. I needed to focus on variety of food. And this informed my gardening moving forward. With this challenge, my passion for gardening grew, and now it has become a lifestyle. Growing vegetables and raising chickens for eggs now, most summers we just buy meat.
Growing your own food puts you back in control of what you eat, and what you feed your family. And I want to help you get there. To become more self-sufficient. When eggs get recalled, you don't have to worry. I want to help you get your hands in the soil.
My mission is simple: empower you with the knowledge and confidence to grow your own food, and reconnect with where your food comes from.
I also like to build things, and I've heard several times from friends, "I've asked my husband to build me one of those, and he still hasn't" and to that, I say, let me be your "husband."
Let’s get growing. And I'm always up for talking tomatoes.
Michelle Liu Covell
