Green Thumbs and Full Hearts: Bailey Van Tassel’s Kitchen Garden Journey

Meet Bailey Van Tassel, the founder of the Kitchen Garden Society and author of the new book Kitchen Garden Living. Bailey has become a prominent figure in the homestead living space. With her unique approach to gardening that combines practicality with mindfulness, Bailey has inspired countless individuals to embrace the joys of growing their own food. Her subscription-based model has made kitchen gardening more accessible, especially for busy parents looking to involve their children in the process.

We had the honor of chatting with Bailey, and she shared her journey into kitchen gardening, dispelled common myths about starting a garden, and offered practical advice for those feeling overwhelmed by the prospect. She also discusses the impact of recent trends like “cottagecore” on the popularity of kitchen gardening and shares her vision for the future of homestead living.

Check out our full interview with Bailey Van Tassel below!

Bailey Van Tassel
Photo Credit: Kami Arant

What inspired you to start the Kitchen Garden Society and share your passion for gardening and homestead living?

Bailey Van Tassel: It was my way of sharing what I had learned that really felt it would make a difference. As a mother of young children who wanted desperately to take growing my own food seriously, I felt that finding an easy button was the difference in giving up and going on. I also wanted to selfishly find a way to garden and be with my kids as much as possible while sharing my knowledge, which is why I chose a subscription model.

How has the pandemic impacted the interest and demand for kitchen gardening and homegrown produce?

Bailey Van Tassel: I saw people’s interest in gardening grow exponentially, as well as people take a look at the timeliness of it and realize that now is better than later for learning how to grow food. The return to “home” and a sense of creating your own peace and independence felt so urgent in 2020 and continues to be a theme that I see.

What are some of the biggest myths or misconceptions people have about starting and maintaining a kitchen garden?

Bailey Van Tassel: The biggest myth is that you need a ton of space. With vertical options and high-density planting, you can cut in half whatever amount of space you think you need. The other misconception is that of a green or black thumb. There’s simply no such thing. There’s perseverance and a desire to learn – that’s all you need.

Bailey Van Tassel
Photo Credit: Kami Arant

In your new book “Kitchen Garden Living,” what can readers expect to learn about the full lifecycle of a kitchen garden?

Bailey Van Tassel: Readers can expect to walk away with tactical knowledge on how to grow their own food from seed to harvest as well as design a beautiful space, but also get inspired to update their lives with the magic of the seasons and our busy schedules. Its full immersion gardening as a way of life, yet completely approachable and with a small amount of time each day.

How can people incorporate more mindfulness and slowing down into their gardening and cooking routines?

Bailey Van Tassel: With cooking, the first thing to do is rearrange how to plan and start first with the question of what’s in season, not what you’re in the mood for. And mindfulness in the garden is really just about getting out there. Nature has a way of slowing us down and quieting the mind, hence why we need it so much.

As an influencer in the homestead living space, how do you maintain a balance between work, family, and your personal passions?

Bailey Van Tassel: I’m a huge fan of stoicism and really work on the idea of temperance. I am reminding myself always of my values (family at the top) and then keeping myself in check when my ambitions start to take over. I tend to naturally sway to the workaholic side of life, as I find so much fulfillment in creating, but find the most actual joy and contentment when that is kept to certain hours so that my family gets the best of me. All that to say I keep a tight schedule and try to work only when it’s work time, which with our phones and so much of my work being on Instagram is a challenge, but a worthy one.

Bailey Van Tassel
Photo Credit: Kami Arant

What are some of the seasonal gardening tasks and considerations people should keep in mind as we head into the holiday season?

Bailey Van Tassel: Right now we want to mulch or cover our soil, or plant a cover crop. Bare soil is never ideal. We also want to be pruning things so that plants can store all their energy in their roots, and when Spring arrives there is a ton of opportunity for growth instead of stagnation.

Can you share a favorite recipe or two that makes the best use of homegrown kitchen garden produce?

I love making a fall pesto with kale. You want to actually blanch the kale and cook it a bit, then blend it with walnuts, parmesan, olive oil, garlic, salt, and a squeeze of lemon.

How has the rise of “cottagecore” and similar lifestyle aesthetics impacted the popularity of kitchen gardening?

Bailey Van Tassel: I love that people are romanticizing gardening – whatever gets you out there is good by me! But I think it’s made gardening more approachable for a younger generation whereas many thought it was sort of a grandma’s hobby. The more we can see growing our own food as a beautiful way of life, the better.

Bailey Van Tassel
Photo Credit: Kami Arant

What advice would you give to someone who is feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of starting a kitchen garden?

Bailey Van Tassel: You will fail, so the faster you do it, the faster you build instincts and confidence. Take that overwhelm and break down whatever unknowns or tasks feel heavy, make them bite-sized, and then tackle them slowly but surely.

Where do you see the kitchen gardening and homestead living movements heading in the next 5-10 years?

Bailey Van Tassel: I see them growing and then plateauing a touch as gardening becomes more ordinary. I think there is a full-on movement right now, but like all things trends come and go and many people will just continue on without making it such a moment. However, I do think that the more extreme movement of prepping and becoming food secure is only going to grow and get louder.

Lastly, is there a specific mantra, quote, or affirmation that you hold close to your heart?

Bailey Van Tassel: If you want to bloom where you are planted, consider planting yourself where you want to grow deep roots.

Pre-Order Bailey’s book Kitchen Garden Living here: https://geni.us/KitchenGardenLiving

And check out her podcast here: The Garden Culture Podcast with Bailey Van Tassel

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Emily Sprinkle, also known as Emma Loggins, is a designer, marketer, blogger, and speaker. She is the Editor-In-Chief for Women's Business Daily where she pulls from her experience as the CEO and Director of Strategy for Excite Creative Studios, where she specializes in web development, UI/UX design, social media marketing, and overall strategy for her clients.

Emily has also written for CNN, Autotrader, The Guardian, and is also the Editor-In-Chief for the geek lifestyle site FanBolt.com