I think we all know that there are a lot of lessons to be learned in the garden and that's twofold: literally how to garden and how to grow food, reconnect with our food chain, and deepen our relationship with nature. I am so excited to deepen my gardening knowledge this summer with My First Garden Series, where I troubleshoot and try my first shot at outdoor gardening outside of the tiny balcony garden that I have had since I've launched the show. In this episode, I invite Nicole from Gardenary for an in-depth garden coaching, sprinkled with wonderful insights about self-love, reconnecting with nature, and just life in general. Let’s dive in! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up! In this episode we learn: [00:04:40] The exciting news for the Bloom and Grow community! [00:08:23] Who is Nicole Burke of Gardenary, how she turned into a gardener, and how gardening has helped her regain her sense of self [00:11:37] How the idea behind Gardenary came to be and Nicole’s ultimate dream for the company [00:15:10] Maria shares her first garden experience, her gardening education, and what she hopes to accomplish this gardening season [00:16:47] The advantages of raised bed gardening vs row gardening and in-ground gardening [00:18:03] The minimum space, cost, and time requirements for beginner gardeners [00:22:07] Nicole’s raised bed suggestion for long and rectangular plots of land and how to work with constraints in your garden [00:25:20] What is the maximum width for a garden bed? How much space should you put in between your garden beds? [00:30:43] How to address garden planning overwhelm and why Nicole believes gardening shouldn’t take time [00:32:45] Why setting up your garden properly is doing 90% of the work [00:34:37] Maria shares her favorite stroll and gardening companion [00:36:25] Where to get the best grow lights for all plant needs and the best seed starter packages for this season! [00:39:06] The best gardening advice Maria has gotten from her mom [00:39:54] Nicole shares the meaning behind her saying “think about nature” and how to reshape our thinking when it comes to plants and their growing abilities [00:43:47] Which plants should you mix in in your bed? How understanding plant families and the best seasons to grow them can give you the best yield [00:47:04] Should you be mindful of shading when combining large plants with smaller ones? Nicole shares the better factors that you should consider: temperature and timing [00:49:39] Where should you face your beds? [00:50:53] Should you start flowers from seeds or from seedlings? What are the best flowers to grow for beginners? [00:54:06] The best smaller sunflowers to grow and where to place them in your garden bed [00:55:25] Since most trellises are expensive, can you make a trellis on your own? [00:57:20] How many cherry tomato plants do you need to achieve Nicole’s amazing tomato arch? [00:59:27] Can you grow more than one plant on one trellis? Nicole shares some garden style tips when growing vines [01:00:46] The magic of gardening and what this hobby teaches us about life and growth [01:01:27] Why everyone should try kitchen gardening [01:05:02] Maria’s current garden situation and what she is looking forward to! Mentioned in our conversation: Brooke Castillo’s Podcast The Life Coach School Nicole Burke’s book Kitchen Garden Revival Gardenary’s YouTube video How Many Blooms Come from One Zinnia Gardenary’s YouTube video How to Grow Tomatoes Up an Arch Trellis Thank you to our episode sponsors: Allagash Brewing Company Allagash Brewing Company is an amazing brewery and b corporation out of Portland, Maine that has just come out with Fine Acre: an organic beer that’s the perfect accompaniment to your indoor and outdoor gardening practices this spring and summer! Fine Acre’s launch supports organic gardening and farming, so we are celebrating with the Beer Gardening with Allagash Sweepstakes! The prize i