Introducing the Good Energy Garden column

Being owner and garden consultant of Good Energy Garden, I often get this question, “What is a Good Energy Garden and why should I have one?” The simple answer is its a kitchen garden, just a few steps from your door to provide fresh herbs and all the greens your family can eat. Greater still, it can provide beans, peppers, squash, cucumbers and many other fresh fruits and vegetables in the height of their season as well as preserving for the winter. However, a Good Energy Garden is much more! The greatest reason is for health, well-being and happiness.

Growing up in Iowa, my dad always planted a backyard garden and taught me how to enrich the soil and make the most of a small plot of land. Having a garden became a way of life! As a wife, mother and now grandmother, I’ve lived in many places across the country and always made it a priority to plant a kitchen garden. It created self-sustainable living through my garden. 

However, over the years my ‘why’ for having a garden shifted from wanting fresh seasonal tomatoes, lettuce and veggies, to a more important reason of experiencing the healing power of good energy from the garden. Yes, you read that correctly, a garden can provide healing energy. I have learned this first hand dealing with my own health challenges with an autoimmune disease. Since there are growing reports of toxins trickling into our food supply and affecting our health, I’ve felt a greater need to share my knowledge and expertise as a garden consultant. This is why I fuse the healing power of gardening with the healing power of food-as-medicine in my kitchen garden designs.

Here are my top reasons for why I garden (but there are many more):
- Growing organically in rich soil without toxic chemicals
- Experiencing the joy, energy and miracle of growing plants with my children and now
grandchildren
- Touching soil releases serotonin in the body, a calming chemical
- Growing plants increases self esteem
- Walking among plants eases anxiety
- Getting dirt under the finger nails improves gut health
- And my latest reason why is to help others experience the happiness of gardening too

In addition to this list, I love the beauty of a garden and design them to be inviting. It should be a source of pride and beckon one to linger and enjoy nature. A garden is not just an outdoor space—it’s an extension of your home, a living, breathing room that offers new experiences every day. Your garden can be designed to reflect your personal style, becoming a sanctuary where you connect with nature, enjoy your morning coffee, entertain guests or spend quality time with family. By treating it as another room, you create a versatile, enriching environment that enhances both your home and your lifestyle.

You may be wondering why I’m starting a garden column in the fall when everyone has closed up their gardens for the winter. We live in Minnesota after all! Actually, this is the time to start planning for spring, whether you are wanting to start a new garden, update your current garden or looking for advice to address some growing concerns; I can help. Many don’t realize that Minnesota has three growing seasons, spring, summer and fall, as well as growing indoors for the winter. In the next column, I will begin sharing how to plan for the 2025 garden, what to plant each season and how to get a more abundant harvest.

I love helping grow gardeners, not just gardens! Let's grow a garden together!