How Growing My Own Food Became a Life-Saving Journey 🌱

Why Growing My Own Food Became a Life-Changing Journey 🌱

Welcome to my blog and my home! I’m Samantha, and I’m thrilled to share my journey of growing my own food—a journey that began with a deeply personal and life-changing event. 🌻

Growing my own food became an absolute priority when my daughter, at a young age, was diagnosed with cancer, followed by type 1 diabetes within the same year. Watching her health be directly impacted by the food we ate and our environment made me take a hard look at what I was feeding my family. I started asking myself some tough questions: “What are we really eating? Why is it so important to consume whole, homegrown food? How can I raise my own food to give my family the best chance at a healthy life?”

🌿 The Seeds of My Gardening Roots

I grew up around small-scale gardening. My grandparents kept a garden, and my mother tried her hand at it from time to time. I knew it was hard work—weekends spent stringing and breaking beans at Grandma’s felt like drudgery to my younger self. But looking back, I realize those moments were prepping me for a future of growing food for my own family. And now, I’m so thankful for that foundation. 🌾

Unfortunately, as I transitioned into young adulthood, I drifted away from this way of life. Processed foods became the norm, and breaking free from the cycle of eating what I now call “fake food” wasn’t easy. Convenience drives our world today—fast life, fast food. But I hadn’t considered the long-term implications of this lifestyle until I saw it affecting my daughter’s health. I knew I had to change, not just for her, but for our entire family.

🌱 From Disaster to Delicious: My Gardening Journey

It’s been about 20 years since I first tilled the land. That first garden? A complete disaster. But with every mistake, I learned valuable lessons. My driving force? My daughter’s health, and ultimately, my own. 💚

Now, I’m here to help you on your journey to growing your own food. It might sound daunting, but I assure you, there are simple steps you can start today that will build your skills and allow you to enjoy the “fruits of your labor” much sooner than you think. 🌸

When I started, I jumped in headfirst, driven by a mission but without taking the time to truly learn the process. The result? A frustrating failure that made me want to give up. But the memories of my grandparents’ delicious, homegrown food kept me going. I didn’t have many people around me living this more natural lifestyle, so books, videos, and countless conversations with my grandpa became my lifeline. In the end, though, I had to dig in—literally—and learn on my own. Sometimes life is like that, and it’s okay. 🌻

🐔 The Gateway to Homesteading: Chickens!

I’ve heard it said, “Chickens are the gateway drug to homesteading,” and I have to laugh because it was true for me. Chickens were the first animals we introduced to our homestead, and they quickly became a vital part of our journey. They provide meat, eggs, fertilizer, bug control, and endless hours of entertainment. 🥚🐓 Best of all, they were easy to integrate into our land with minimal cost and were already adding value to our homestead within a few months.

With just a little land, a garden, and some chickens, much of our homestead existence is sustained. And it all started with the simple decision to grow our own food. 🌱

🌼 Growing Your Own Food: A Tasty and Fruitful Endeavor

Growing your own food is not just a rewarding experience—it’s a delicious and healthy way of life. Over the past 20 years, I’ve learned so much, and I’m excited to share everything with you, one blog post and YouTube video at a time. Why do I do this? Because I want YOU to experience the taste of nature and the joy of healthy living too. 🌿

Once you understand the concepts and put them into practice, I believe your mouth will water every year at the thought of what dreams lie just beneath your soil. So, let’s grow together!

Written by Samantha Minney
Author of "Grow Your Own Food: Container Gardening for Beginners" 🌷

Ready to start your own gardening journey? Join me on my Grow Your Own Food Facebook and YouTube channels for more tips, inspiration, and community support. Let’s cultivate something amazing together! 🌻