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Life as a full-time working mom with two young boys is chaotic- there’s no denying it. Between managing my healthcare career, taking care of my family, and handling the everyday household tasks, finding time for anything extra feels like a stretch. But there’s something about gardening that pulls me in. Despite my hectic schedule, I make it a point to grow food for my family every year. Why? Because it’s rewarding, it teaches my kids valuable life lessons, and most importantly, it gives us homegrown food that we can enjoy all season long.
But let’s be honest: I don’t have hours to spend in the garden every day. Here’s how I make gardening work even with my busy life, and you can too.
Why I Garden Despite the Chaos
The truth is, gardening is therapeutic for me, and it’s one of the few hobbies I can do that involves my family. My boys, 4 and 2, love being involved, even if it’s just in small ways. Gardening is also a great way to have fresh food without the stress of grocery shopping every week. We grow a mix of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and honestly, it’s a lifesaver when I don’t have the time to run to the store. Plus, it’s incredibly satisfying to harvest what we’ve planted and serve it at the dinner table.
Time-Saving Hacks for Busy Moms
Even though I’m a fan of gardening, I had to find ways to make it easier to manage while balancing everything else. Here’s how I do it:
1. Choose Low-Maintenance Plants
One of the first decisions I made was to choose plants that don’t require constant attention. I my tomatoes indoors however the other ones i will either buy at the local flower shop or sow directly into the ground once the soil it an adequate temperature. Some of my favorites include:
- Tomatoes (especially cherry tomatoes that are easy to pick and don’t require constant pruning)
- Zucchini (great for beginners, and produces a lot of fruit in a short time)
- Herbs (basil, parsley, and cilantro grow quickly and don’t need much care)
- Perennials (plants like strawberries and rhubarb come back every year, saving time and effort). I bought 4 everbearing strawberry plants at a a local shop 4 years ago and they have grown and spread and the past 2 years we had enough strawberries for the entire season! They are low maintenance- essentially no work is needed to grow these; plus the kids love going out to the garden and eating them- honestly hardly any actually make it into the house unless my husband goes out and picks them.
These plants grow with minimal maintenance, and I can spend my time in the garden efficiently.
2. Use Raised Beds or Containers
I’ve learned that raised beds (I use these for my strawberries and tomatoes) and containers make a huge difference. They are easy to manage and there are many options to choose from online- or you can make your own! Containers are great for small gardens and can be placed on patios or in the backyard. I also am lucky to have a husband who set up automatic sprinklers in both of our gardens to make sure they always get enough moisture without having to physically water every day.
3. Keep It Simple
I’ve embraced the mantra: “Done is better than perfect.” Not every garden needs to be flawless or Instagram-worthy. I don’t always have the time to weed every day or prune every plant. I let go of that pressure and focus on the bigger picture- feeding my family and spending quality time together.
One tip I learned last year from a neighbor was, more the merrier, meaning- the more plants you have in your garden the less weeds you will have. So pack it full for veggies for your family!
Getting My Kids Involved
One of my favorite things about gardening is the opportunity to get my kids involved. My older son loves to help plant seeds, water the plants, and harvest the fruits and vegetables- while eating most of the mint leaves off the plant along the way (“they taste like toothpaste mom!”). He’s learning the importance of responsibility and patience as he watches the plants grow. My younger son, while still a little young for most of the hands-on tasks, enjoys running around the garden, playing with dirt, and observing the process (making a mess!) .
Here’s how I make gardening fun and easy for them:
- Simple Tasks for Young Kids:
- Filling pots with soil
- Watering the plants (with a small watering can)
- Harvesting easy veggies like cherry tomatoes, herbs, or strawberries
- Each of the boys have their own gardening kit which they love as it makes them feel important to use and have their own tools (and that means mine are me only!)
- Fun Projects for Older Kids:
- Creating garden markers using popsicle sticks
- Helping plant seedlings in the garden (or indoors- see my seed starting indoors blogs here, here, here and here!)
- Picking flowers or vegetables for family meals
One of the highlights of our garden are our strawberry plants. The boys absolutely love checking for ripe berries every day. It’s become a little family tradition to go out together and see who can spot the juiciest, reddest strawberry. The catch? The fruit almost never makes it into the house! The boys can’t resist popping the ripe berries right into their mouths before dinner, and honestly, I don’t mind. It’s a fun way to connect with nature and enjoy fresh, sweet fruit straight from the garden. Plus, it’s a perfect little appetizer before our meals- though I can never seem to keep enough berries to actually use them in recipes!
My Garden Setup and How I Save Time
Even with a busy schedule, I can still manage to maintain a garden. Here’s a peek into my setup:
- My husband and I built a raised garden bed on the side of our house that gets sun the majority of the day, it is easy to access as it is right off our sunroom.
- For indoor seed starting, I have a small greenhouse setup in our sunroom- which gets natural light most of the day- I do have a grow light if needed though. I use egg cartons or small pots to start seeds and keep them organized in a tray. I have a few blogs on starting seeds indoors- check them out here, here, here and here!
- My husband hooked up an in ground watering system using rain bird and has the app on his phone- this makes it easy to never forget to water. If you don’t have the time or finances to do set up a system like this, no worries, set a timer on your phone to water the garden at the same time each day, or it can be a simple task to get the kids involved- some days we just have the boys water as a chore and they love it!
If you’re a busy mom, don’t let gardening feel like an added stress. Start small, choose easy-to-grow plants, and get the kids involved. With just a little planning, you can grow food that will make your family feel more connected to nature, teach your children important lessons, and save time and money in the long run. Gardening may not always be perfect, but it’s always worth it.
Happy Gardening!
With Love,
Bri & Cat
Related Posts You Might Like:
The Easiest Vegetables for Beginner Gardeners (Trust Me, You Can Grow These!)
Companion Planting: A Busy Mom’s Guide to a Thriving Garden
Starting a Strawberry Garden: From 8 Plants to an All-Season Harvest
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