Grow Where You’re Planted
Published by Sophia Institute Press
Also available as an audiobook on the Saintifi App
It is known in our house that my husband is the green thumb (and I’m the black thumb!) in our family. In the past, I spent summers enjoying the abundant harvest of his efforts (one year, we had over 100 tomato plants lining just our back fence!), but, sadly, anything I tried to grow wilted and died. As our soil worsened and pests and critters to our yard increased (groundhogs and bunnies are cute, but they eat everything!!), we became discouraged and our garden shrank. Last year, the kids asked to start a garden again, so, with my husband’s guidance, we planted 5 large pots with zucchinis, cucumbers, and tomatoes! We put the pots up on a table too high for groundhogs and rabbits to reach. The kids are asking to grow even more this year, so I read Grow Where You’re Planted by Samantha Stephenson in preparation!
What is Included in This Book
This book includes practical gardening tips for each season, lovely scripture reflections about cultivating the garden of our soul, delicious farm to table recipes, and TONS of resources for starting a garden or improving upon your skills. The book focuses on tips for feeding your family organic, wholesome food no matter your circumstances.
There are even sections in each chapter for ways to get the kids involved making your family garden a whole family affair. I learned a lot about composting, raised beds, soil blocks, and curing foods to last through the winter, and I am so inspired to start planting! The physical book is beautiful next to my other cookbooks, and the layout is organized making it easy to find the information that you need. I also enjoyed the audiobook version to listen to while folding laundry and washing dishes.
The primary message of this book is that you do not need a ton of property or land to create a garden with organic fruits and vegetables to feed your family. You can use what God has given you right now to get started!
Seasonal “Seeds for Contemplation” and “Tending the Garden”
The book is organized into 4 main section: spring, summer, fall, and winter. You can begin reading the book at any time of the year. Just be sure to skip to the season that you are currently experiencing. Personally, I read the book cover to cover by first go-around to get an overview of the year, and it was so enjoyable that when I started reading I simply didn’t want to put it down.
Then, each season is divided into 2 sections: “Seeds for Contemplation” and “Tending the Garden.”
Seeds for Contemplation
This section included scripture reflections on well-known Bible passages such as the Parable of the Sower, the Parable of the Fig Tree, and more. Samantha expertly shows how gardening is filled with lessons in God’s goodness and lessons in growing in virtue. These sections were lovely.
Tending the Garden
This section is the practical advice for growing your goodies and getting the most out of each harvest. With each season comes challenges and tasks, and they are all laid out very well in this section. Samantha’s instructions and advice are clear and not at all intimidating. As I read the book, I was motivated to make notes for the tasks that I wanted to start on right away.
After I devoured this book in one day, I immediately started planning our garden for this year. I purchased seeds, soil, and a soil blocker from Samantha’s recommended vendors (found in the back of the book). My husband picked a new raised bed for our yard and some grow towers. We hit the ground running and soil blocked over 200 seeds that are now happily germinating under some grow lights.
Free Resources Available at snstephenson.com
The appendix is filled with wonderful, helpful resources such as booklists, planting guides, and recipes. Throughout the book, you will also be directed to find many free printables at Samantha’s website (snstephenson.com). In addition, you can find a free children’s companion science curriculum! This is great for homeschooling families that want to weave gardening and nature study right into their day. Find all of the free accompanying resources here.
Also, be sure to check out Samantha’s youtube channel with tons of tips for gardening in an ordinary backyard. I found this one truly inspiring!
Make Gardening a Family Affair
I think that the most unique aspect of this book is how Samantha shows that gardening can (and should!) be a whole family affair. She discusses how she works with her husband on planning and executing their gardening goals, and it is lovely to see how his and her strengths are utilized beautifully to cultivate their garden. She also gives clear, enjoyable, and practical ways to involve kids of all ages. There are little boxes in each sections entitled “Little Hands in the Dirt” that help keep gardening enjoyable and educational for the kids. We will be implementing many of these suggestions in our daily family gardening time.
Who Would Enjoy this Book
As a mom who is interested and motivated to grow our garden and preserve our harvest, I loved this book. My husband and I enjoyed discussing the different tips and tricks presented throughout the book. It’s a great book for families and anyone who wants organic, home grown food. It is also a spiritually enriching book and a way to help anyone grow closer to God through gardening and marveling at His Creation!
You can find Grow Where You’re Planted by Samantha Stephenson at Sophia Institute Press.
It is also available as an audiobook on the Saintifi app.
