THIS IS MY STORY..

In 2019, I realized something was missing in my life. As the owner and coach of my successful nutrition and fitness business (earnthatbody.com), I worked nonstop. When work was done, I was a mom to my incredible son and a wife to my wonderful husband. No complaints—but I wasn’t waking up excited each day. Something felt off.

I can’t quite remember what first sparked my interest in gardening, but I do remember the moment I asked my husband if he could build me an elevated garden bed. The second he said, "YES," I felt a wave of excitement for the first time in a long while.

Looking back, it makes perfect sense why gardening intrigued me. It was the next natural step in my health and nutrition journey. With my background in Eastern Medicine, I’ve always been passionate about balanced nutrition, organic eating, and living a healthy life. Growing my own organic produce felt like the ultimate way to gain control over my food—knowing exactly what was sprayed (or not), the soil it grew in, and ensuring it was handled with care. I’d have the power to maximize the nutrition of the food I ate, right from my backyard.

The funny thing? I had ZERO experience with gardening. It wasn’t something I grew up with or knew much about. But I’m not the type to dive in blindly. I researched like crazy—reading articles, watching videos, and asking endless questions at a local garden store.

Once that first bed was built, my husband and I filled it with organic potting soil and slow-release fertilizer, and I eagerly planted my first crops—cherry tomatoes, peppers, red Malabar spinach (which I quickly learned is NOT the same as regular spinach!), radishes, and marigolds. I honestly just grabbed what looked fun at the store and couldn’t wait to get growing!

That first garden bed was a success in many ways, though it also taught me valuable lessons about what to do—and not do—next time. But what I loved most was that I wasn’t just working non-stop or endlessly scrolling on social media. I had a new outlet that got me outside, with my hands in the soil, watching the magic of nature unfold as my vegetables grew. Not everything thrived (trust me!), but I was hooked.

Before long, I was asking my husband for Bed #2, then Bed #3! Fast forward three years, and I was gardening in containers, troughs, elevated beds, raised beds, and even experimenting with no-dig garden beds. I now grow everything from tomatoes and peppers to collards, luffa, sweet potatoes, garlic, and more!

My life shifted from the daily grind to jumping out of bed with excitement, eager to finish work so I could spend time in the garden. To say I’m hooked is an understatement. Growing my own organic vegetables & flowers has changed my health (I’m eating so many new things I’d never find in stores) and improved my mental well-being. Gardening has been proven to reduce depression and anxiety while boosting life satisfaction and overall quality of life—and now I’ve experienced that firsthand.

Today, my passion is to PAY GARDENING FORWARD. I want to show everyone that you can grow your own organic food—whether in a terra cotta pot or a large in-ground bed! Not only will you enjoy food that tastes better than anything store-bought, but you might also fill that missing piece in your soul and experience greater happiness. And if you have young children, I’d love to help you share this incredible gift with them at a young age.

Let’s Grow a Healthy Garden Together!

Kim Eagle