YEP, THAT’S ME

Just a few months from one of those really big birthdays - you know, one that ends in a zero. Yikes! But that wasn’t always me. Six years ago, I was 45 pounds heavier, I couldn’t sleep, I was always tired and achy, and my favorite foods included pizza, pasta, wine and anything crunchy with lots of salt. And I’d never heard of Pilates. Then one day . . . I woke up and decided I wanted to plant a kitchen garden.

woman laughing in garden with book in hand
 
woman in garden with glass of wine
 

 WHO KNEW?

A kitchen garden would change my life. It wasn’t very big - just herbs, tomatoes and peppers. But it was enough and I was hooked. I had always had a garden - mostly roses and gardenias. And I’ve always loved to cook and bake. I’m a master gardener and received specialized training through Floret Flower Farm. I’ve also taken numerous courses at The Culinary Institute of America and the Sante Fe School of Cooking. But this was something totally different.

THE MORE I LEARNED - THE MORE I WANTED TO KNOW

So I started to read - a lot. And I began experimenting with different plant varieties to see which ones were easy to grow and maintain, and which ones just always seemed to struggle. I researched soil content and various organic pest control methods. And I became a certified landscape designer and went to work for a local nursery.

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

I became obsessed with using everything I harvested from my garden. Which can be quite challenging when you’re faced with pounds of tomatoes and tomatillos and dozens of lettuces! But I was not to be deterred - I learned how to can and I purchased a dehydrator. And somewhere along the way, I realized that food just tastes better when it hasn’t traveled thousands of miles only to sit on a store shelf. Plus, I love to say “that’s from my garden”.

Fast forward a bit, and here comes Covid. With everyone sheltering in place, I was so thankful for my garden! Especially since there was no more eating out. Talk about having to get creative! But then I started thinking - if I can do this, then others can too. So I started a blog and became a certified garden consultant so that I could help turn kitchen garden dreams into reality.

AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE . . .

The more gardening knowledge I gained, and the more time I spent designing, creating and implementing kitchen gardens for others, the more productive my garden became. So productive, in fact, that my family was eating way more fruits and veggies than they ever thought possible. And guess what? I was beginning to feel better. I found out I LOVED Pilates, I was sleeping better, and I was able to boot those extra pounds out the door. It seems there may be some truth to that 1826 French saying “you are what you eat”!

THEN BOOM! I GOT COVID

In mid-2021, a year and a half after it first appeared in the U.S. My symptoms weren’t that severe, but everything tasted burnt and I didn’t want to eat anything. Nothing. Nada. Not one bite. The smell of food turned my stomach. And even though my other symptoms slowly faded, the burnt food taste lived on. And on. And on. So I just ate what I could. Besides that - I was back to feeling tired and achy, and not sleeping well. And . . . my hair was falling out. Seriously?

But then I remembered how much better I had felt when I was eating my garden harvests on a regular basis. And if we truly are what we eat, then choosing dishes made with fresh, organic, seasonal food from my garden had to help.

WHAT I DISCOVERED

It was during this time that the Mediterranean Diet was getting a lot of attention. So was the concept of “plant-forward”, defined by the Culinary Institute of America as “a style of cooking and eating that emphasizes and celebrates, but is not limited to, plant-based foods . . .” Eating seasonally and locally was becoming a priority, and “farm to table” had become a favorite catch-phrase. But I was looking for more. I believed there had to be a stronger connection between what you ate and how you felt.

THE GAME CHANGER

Then I discovered culinary nutrition. It’s where nutrition, food science and the culinary arts meet to create healthy dishes using whole and fresh ingredients. Not only that - you intentionally use the therapeutic properties of different foods and prepare them for the greatest benefit for you. This was perfect!

Now I’m certified in both gardening and culinary nutrition. I’ve discovered wellness gardening and how to use my garden harvests in the best possible way for myself and my family. I’ve branched out to include edible flowers in my kitchen garden and have planted tons of cut flowers - because they make me smile. And I’m working on a body care line - stay tuned!

I want to share all my knowledge and experience to help you become the best version of yourself. The one you want to see every morning in the mirror. The one that is healthy, happy and alive. The one who’s in control of the food on your family's table. And the one who feels their very best. Every. Single. Day.

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WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING LATELY