FCYP blog

Gardening has never come natural to me. I used to envision this prosperous, bountiful creation that just never seemed to transpire. I would buy some seeds, find a sunny area and do just as we are taught as kids, “Dig a little hole, bury the seed, pour some water and wallah!” Days went by and nothing. Discouraged, I would buy already sprouted seeds and resort to only transplanting with the hopes of success. Even then, I found myself forgetting to water the garden, pick the weeds and prune.

After seasons of failure at a home garden, I finally accepted and took ownership of what I was lacking. I couldn’t blame it on the soil, the location or even the seeds. In fact, I couldn’t even blame it on lack of experience or knowledge. There are plenty of resources to grow even the most basic of gardens. My achilles heel all along was “commitment”. How do I know that my green thumb was hiding behind this simple principle?

In 2014, I had just completed my program to become a certified Holistic Health Coach. It was important to truly embody everything I had learned about holistic living. Within a few months, I had committed to the journey of becoming a yoga instructor, seeing clients as a health coach, managing a restaurant and returning to my seasonal job as a white water raft guide. If I hadn’t already taken on enough, I decided to work on a CSA farm. One day a week, I would dedicate a few hours to working in the fields or green house of a local farm. In exchange for my work, I received a share of fresh harvested produce.

After three seasons on the farm, I officially left to carry on with other life ambitions. The final two seasons was spent in the greenhouse under the guidance of my “greenhouse guru”. He had been a master in his field for decades and could sprout just about anything. I observed the care and attention he gave to each and every plant. His dedication and attention to detail were some of the characteristics I highly regarded.

He had configured exact mathematical measurements for the best starter and planting soil. A good level of pH balance and fertility is needed for a seedling to germinate and thrive. Breaking of dirt or sifting is important. Using a spray bottle with water can make the difference versus over-pouring water out of a spout or cup. If you went with the method of planting multiple seeds per spot in case some fail to germinate, you will have to decide which plant is strongest and healthiest to keep. Leaves that are yellowing or infested with bug damage need to be trimmed and in a particular way. Get ready to have a plan of action to protect your plants from predators.

I could go on about what it truly takes to even get a garden started. Three hours of my time each week is nothing compared to how much cumulative hours it takes to keep a small community garden producing a bounty of harvest. When I left the farm to focus on other life ambitions, buying produce became a way of life for me again. I referred to the “Dirty Dozen and Clean 15″ list when buying all organic wasn’t financially an option. It had become clear that I had been swept into a life of busyness & over scheduling. The bounty I longed to cultivate on my own seemed out of reach and nearly impossible.

Was my lack of success because I relied heavily on continued guidance? No. I had all the knowledge, the experience and the ability to research what I did not know. My green thumb was hiding in a place of denial. My home garden always fell waist side in comparison to other priorities. I had never truly committed to the process of maintaining a garden.

I accepted that gardening would take the back seat until I could fully commit the time and energy. With the onset of COVID-19, I saw a window of opportunity. At the time, I was multitasking managing a yoga studio, teaching yoga and waitressing. I found myself on the brink of exhaustion and feeling burnt out. I had already been at a crossroads weeks earlier about transitioning out of the restaurant industry and fully committing to my role at the yoga studio. When the layoffs happened at the restaurant, a feeling of relief overcame me.

By chance, the universe had nudged me to continue on my true path. The vision of the prosperous, bountiful garden wasn’t far fetched after all. The years of trial and error, experience on the farm and an ultimate acceptance of accountability was the perfect recipe for achieving my goals. I was no longer sleeping past sunrise because I had closed the restaurant at 1am that morning. Instead, I was able to cultivate the sleep schedule I desired in order to optimize my work outdoors. Watering the plants during those crucial hours in the wee morning became possible. Squatting in the garden throughout the week has contributed to deeper flexibility within my body, allowing my yoga practice to flourish. Taking more time to tend to the garden has allowed a deeper sense of inner peace to occur. The time outside, immersed in nature brings much clarity during these times of uncertainty.

The majority of all my seedlings have sprouted and continue the thrive today. Downloading the app, “Seed to Spoon” helped me determine incredibly accurate planting dates based off of exact GPS. The app as all kinds of resources to help you stay on top of your garden’s health:

Personalized Planting Dates for 100+ Foods
Identify and Manage Pests Organically
Grow For Your Health
Recipes Straight from the Garden
Companion Planting Made Easy
Videos + Updates Readily Available

The app made it much easier to create a plan, guidelines and deadlines. An overwhelming amount of weeds is no longer an issue because I’m tending the garden regularly. Embracing the surrender to “commitment” has brought about a renewed sense of empowerment.

Humans are resilient and encompass problem-solving skills. A hiccup in mother nature allowed me to revisit past ambitions. I was led to put my hands back in the dirt and remember the importance of the relationship between us & earth. When we stop ignoring the needs of our planet, life thrives. When engulfed in busyness, it’s easy to forget to nurture yourself as nature intended.

If you are intimidated to start the journey to growing your own food, you are not alone! Research, ask experts you know for advice and approach the journey with an open mind and heart. If you fail, dust the dirt off your shoulder and don’t lose hope. Happy gardening and wishing you the most success!

Kaitlyn is a yogini who strives to honor and celebrate the interconnectedness of all beings. Born with a wandering soul & curious mind, she has spent the last several years exploring holistic lifestyles and deepening her yoga practice. Kaitlyn believes in creating an inviting space for everyone to discover their potential. An E-RYT 200/RYT 300, she primarily shares her teachings through yoga. Kaitlyn believes that peace comes from within. She opens her heart to all who desire to embark on the path to love through yoga and holistic wellness.

Photo by Ella Olsson on Unsplash

What’s the one thing that can improve your health, lessen your environmental footprint, and make a difference in the lives of countless animals?

A plant-based diet.

A few facts: animal agriculture is the single biggest contributor to greenhouse gases, pollution, and subsequent climate change. Over 70 billion animals worldwide are killed each year for human consumption. Populations eating a plant-based diet on average live the longest with the lowest rates of chronic disease.

What is a plant-based or vegan diet? It’s a diet composed of minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. It excludes all animal products, including red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products.

If you eat an omnivorous diet, you might be thinking to yourself, I could never do that. That sounds too hard. I would miss all my favorite foods. I shouldn’t even bother trying.

I totally get it. Most vegans, unless they were fortunate enough to have been raised vegan, had those same thoughts and doubts before they made the switch.

If you had told me twenty years ago that I would one day be a passionate vegan, I wouldn’t have believed you. And that’s why I want to share my experience with you.

I was raised omnivorous and ate the standard American diet for the first 25 years of my life. After 10 years back and forth as a pescatarian (a vegetarian diet that also includes seafood and fish) and vegetarian (a largely plant-based diet but usually includes dairy and eggs), I began my vegan journey on June 1, 2016.

My motivation was partially ethics. I love animals, so naturally I didn’t want to eat my friends or contribute to their suffering. Having completed my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2013 and learned about the concept of ahimsa (non-violence), I knew that my actions were not in alignment with my values. How could I eat a sentient being’s flesh or steal its milk or eggs without doing violence to them? I wanted to be vegan, but I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to live the life I wanted at the same time. How would I eat when I traveled? Would I still be able to enjoy nice restaurants? Would I have the same energy and strength to practice yoga, workout, and run?

However hard it might be, it was clear to me that veganism was the only diet that would resonate with my mind, body, and soul. So I learned more about the health-related aspects of plant-based eating, reading books like T. Colin Campbell’s A China Study, Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, and Scott Jurek’s Eat & Run. Documentaries like Forks Over Knives and What the Health were also illuminating. After educating myself on the nutritional benefits of veganism, I realized that making the switch would not only help the animals but my health as well.

I decided to commit to the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart program hosted by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. It’s a free online program that educates and supports you in the transition to a plant-based diet. Each day you get a friendly email teaching you something about nutrition, plant-based cooking, and tips on how to handle the grocery shopping and navigate restaurant menus.

The transition turned out to be much easier than I expected. After those 21 days on the kickstart program, I felt great and loved what I was doing, so I saw no reason to stop. The more time that passed, the more I realized there was no going back for me.

I learned how to cook plant-based versions of my favorite meals at home with the help of numerous vegan cooking blogs and books. I learned how to order vegan meals at restaurants so that I could stay the course even when eating out. And it turned out that traveling and staying vegan was easier than I thought; even when traveling internationally. It didn’t take long to settle into new habits and for my new way of eating and cooking to feel totally natural.

How about physical activity? I’m a long-distance runner as well as a vinyasa practitioner and teacher, so maintaining my energy and strength has always been critical. Not only was I able to keep up, I actually saw my athletic ability improve. After just a few months on a whole foods, plant-based diet, I had clearer skin, improved digestion, better sleep, and more energy. Today, I’m 40 years old and stronger than I’ve ever been. I ran my fastest marathon in February 2020.

Misunderstandings about the viability of a plant-based diet run rampant and often deter people from trying it. But the truth is, not only can you meet all the necessary requirements for protein, nutrients, and vitamins, but you’ll most likely find additional benefits from eating plant-based.

There is literally nothing in animal foods that you can’t get from plant foods, including protein. The complete protein myth was debunked over 30 years ago, meaning that all essential amino acids can be found in plant foods and animals products are not necessary to meet protein requirements. Many vegans supplement for B-12 and vitamin D, but a good chunk of the population is deficient in those regardless of their dietary choice.

I believe more people would go vegan if they knew how easy, healthy, and delicious plant-based food can be. I also believe that if more people knew the truth about the cruelty and violence inflicted on billions of farm animals each year, they wouldn’t want to support the industries who profit from it. The same goes for the environment and lessening our impact on mother Earth; we can mitigate climate change and pollution just by choosing what to put on our plates.

Even if you aren’t ready or willing to go 100% plant-based, don’t let perfection get in the way of progress. “Veggie-curious” is a great place to start! Try making one meal a day plant-based, then progress to an entire day per week. Trying crowding your plate with plants before other options and see how you feel. Tap into online resources like Forks Over Knives and read vegan cooking blogs. Small steps can create momentum that can lead to big changes.

Many people eat a standard American diet thinking they don’t have another choice, but the truth is, there is another choice—the compassionate choice for your body, animals, and the environment.

I share my experience with you only to highlight that I had so many doubts and fears before starting my plant-based journey, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Today my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.

If you are interested in learning more about eating a vegan diet, consider PCRM’s 21-Day Vegan Challenge or read more at Forks Over Knives. Both resources offer support in transitioning to a plant-based diet and a plethora of recipes for preparing delicious vegan food.

Jessica is an RYT-200 who’s yoga journey began in 2008 when she went in search of relief from the physical demands of long-distance running. She quickly fell in love with the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of a regular yoga and meditation practice. She completed her RYT-200 in 2013 and considers it an honor to share the gift of yoga and to help others find freedom and joy in their bodies. Outside of yoga, Jessica is a writer, an avid traveler, and a long-distance runner. She loves reading, vegan cooking & baking, and spending time with her two corgis Finlee and Tucker.

FCYP blog

Finding my Green Thumb

The Joys of Plant-Based Living