Let's Garden Together

Our mission is to encourage everyone to begin and grow their own vegetable and herb gardens by:

• Creating natural escapes for everyone to grow, harvest, and enjoy;
• Educating all people about the benefits of sustainable and eco-friendly edible gardens; and
• Cultivating a community who are committed to sustainable land use in a suburban setting.
  

Why should I garden?

Well, I'm glad you asked!

Unlike many other activities, there are few cons of gardening to many many pros - here are some highlights:

1. Being outside in the sun for at least 30 minutes a day can increase your body's absorption of vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for so many of our bodily functions.
   
2. Gardening is an activity anyone at any age can enjoy.
3. Gardening is an incredible mood booster, reducing depression and anxiety. Microbes in living soil, called mycobacterium vaccae, are to thank for the serotonin boost that can increase your happiness and relaxation.
4. Studies also show that gardening helps with cognitive function, such as memory and executive functioning.
   
5. For me, playing in the dirt is a great way to clear my mind and focus on something so simple and primal as growing food for my family.
   
6. In addition, nothing brings me as much joy as a beautiful flower bouquet picked especially for me by my littlest.
   

Our property before we built our home in 2015

The first beds to our kitchen garden in 2019

A portion of our kitchen garden in 2023

Our Property

Our property started as most suburban neighborhood properties do - desolate and void of life. We struggled to grow grass, had invasive weeds, non-native plants, poison ivy, and brambles of unkept brush in the far back of our yard. Year by year we have made improvements to our quarter-acre that not only looks beautiful, but serves a very important purpose. By adding lush pollinator-friendly flower beds and various biodiverse plants, we have created our own micro-ecosystem.

Ecosystems: This ecosystem has improved the health and well-being of our soil microbes and attracts migrating birds, pollinators, and other beneficial insects. By consistently utilizing organic gardening practices over time, we have attracted beneficial insects to help control harmful pests that can destroy vegetable gardens and ravage flowers. I walk through the gardens nearly every day to keep a watchful eye on everything, remove the undesirable pests, and leave the rest. Companion planting has a lot to thank for the biodiversity in our space, both deterring pests and welcoming others. We provide water sources, do not use synthetic and harsh chemicals, and have plenty of spaces for insects, birds, and small animals to hide, build homes, and hibernate.

Habitat: In 2020, our property became a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. This is a certification we sought to declare our property as one that has food, water, cover, and spaces for young birds and insects while utilizing sustainable gardening practices. This has served us well in abundance of produce, stunning views, and a quarter acre of thriving eco-systems. Although we still have many gardens and landscaping to go, we have taken a desolate space and turned it into a thriving eco-system.

I would love the opportunity to work with you to teach you how to create your own eco-systems, grow an abundance of produce to feed yourself, family, and community. It's not only fun, but incredibly rewarding!

Why do I need a garden coach?

The amount of people who have expressed a desire to start a kitchen and herb garden to me is outstanding. Moreso, the amount of people who believe they have a black thumb and claim a thriving garden isn't attainable for them. That is simply not true. Anyone can become a gardener, whether that be gardening flowers, herbs, vegetables, orchards, permaculture etc. Are you ready for the secret to achieve gardener status? Education and experience. Understanding how sun, water, soil health, and plants work together. Knowing what plants like being planted together and which do not. With our experience and education, we are here to help!

Gardening does not have to be complicated or intimidating. As a garden coach, it is our job to teach you how to become a successful gardener in your own space. If you are in a rental and don't have the landscape to build raised beds, let's create a container garden. Tight on funds? That's okay! We have budget friendly plans to construct your own raised beds. Have terrible soil and nothing grows? Same! We can fix that. As our mission states, we want everyone to be encouraged to start and grow their own food. We would like to teach you how to have a flourishing garden, how and where to place raised beds and containers, and watch you learn. You do not actually have a black thumb.

Let's find the right garden solution for you

Ferguson Family Gardens strives

to connect with our local communities!

We largely serve the southeastern quadrant of the Greater Columbus area.

Outside of the highlighted map will be an additional $35 travel fee up to one hour from Canal Winchester.

Let's make your garden unforgettable!

Bella Luce Design LLC