The 10-Minute Garden

don't let time be the reason you aren't growing your own food

It’s easy to dream big and be motivated to spend ALL the time in the sun when you’re in the depths of garden planning in January. I mean, it’s COLD out there right now. Then August hits and you are BURNT OUT. Sweaty from the sun. Overcome with weeds. Countertops overflowing with abundance. It’s a blessing and a curse. 

It’s no secret that I’m a believer in garden planning during the winter months. We start our first seeds in a few weeks (at the end of January) and I like to have three seasons of my garden planned out - both planting calendars and layouts - by the time that first seed hits the soil.

As a mom, now with two young kids, my garden goals and plan look a little different. Some days, let’s be real - most days, I can only count on spending 10 minutes in the garden. Sometimes that’s simply enjoying the beauty of it, allowing myself to take a deep breath and feel the sanctuary of what we’ve created. Other days it’s to harvest. Or maybe pull a few weeds. I don’t get it all done in those 10 minutes but I do what is needed most, either by me or by my garden. 

The 10-Minute Garden 

The 10-minute garden mindset is about creating a habit of showing up every single day. Some days you will spend much more than 10 minutes. It’s a commitment to yourself and nature, that you’ll spend at least 10 minutes each day growing your own food.

Most homesteaders work away from our homes, have community commitments, are parents, or have other projects and responsibilities that take them out of the garden. I certainly fit that description and have felt lost in the world of mainstream homesteading content when it comes to gardening because of that. 

When I became a mom I made this commitment to myself and the garden. I would spend at least 10 minutes a day in the garden. It’s 10 minutes to myself, or at least doing something for myself, being productive, and taking a small load off my burdensome list. Chances are you can relate to this, even if you aren’t a mom. We are all so overstimulated and sent in 10,000 directions at once.

Don’t let time be the burden that keeps you from growing your own food. Adopt the 10-minute garden mindset. 

Affirmations for a 10-minute Garden:  

• I commit to spending 10 minutes in the garden each day. 

• I accept that I won’t get everything done. 

• I will learn to prioritize tasks in the garden. 

• I will accept my mental well-being as a garden task and prioritize it as needed. 

Gardening tips for 10-minute Garden

During the growing season:

• Keep your soil covered (mulch) to retain water (less active watering) and reduce weeds

• Keep a physical list (phone or other) of garden tasks that need to be done at all times

  • Prioritize this list and choose one thing every day to get done, focusing on what is most time-sensitive or impactful 

• Freeze as much of your harvest as you have space for - can/preserve it later!

• Use ollas or irrigation to reduce active watering. 

• Adopt an “always be planting” mentality. Avoid having to commit huge chunks of time to seed starting, and transplanting by doing it little by little. It’s pretty easy as long as you have an area designated to it. This may also help spread out harvests and avoid harvest fatigue. 

As you plan (now!): 

• Grow what you want to eat (this creates less burden when it comes to dealing with your harvest)

• Cover garden space with mulch, cardboard or burlap to prevent weeds from growing in early spring or kill grass/existing weeds 

• Plan your full growing season now - I plan spring, summer and fall layouts and planting schedules at one time in January. Otherwise it doesn’t get done.

• Consider more perennials. Perennials require less water and are more resilient once established. 

• Diversify your garden with companion planting and square-foot gardening. Read more in my last post!

• Smart walkways. If you’re planning a garden extension or new garden consider wider walkways that will easily fit a wheelbarrow or garden cart. Save time hauling mulch, compost and harvests! Bonus for sheet mulching with cardboard and covering the walkways with gravel or thick layers of wood chip mulch to reduce weeding. 

• Raised beds. If you’re planning a garden extension or new garden consider raised beds. They’re more work to design, build and fill, but once you’re growing they will be less maintenance than an in-ground garden.

Benefits of 10-minute Gardening

• Daily observations for improved insights and learning intuitive gardening

• Grounding your mind and body through deep breaths of fresh air, the satisfaction of boundaries, and physical contact with nature

• Reduces chances of burnout 

• Reduces chances of overwhelm

• Stay organized throughout the growing season 

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I’m a mom of two, my oldest is 3. I work away from home for about 30 hours per week. I write and share my gardening experience on social media and here on substack (duh). I’m a wife. Daughter. Sister. Friend. We have animals to care for. A home that needs upkeep. The list goes on. I get that starting or maintaining a garden can feel like too big of a time investment. 

But I also get that it’s important to choose yourself and something that will bring you happiness and joy. As someone who is always serving other people before herself, I feel this deeply. The things I choose for myself can sometimes cross the line and become a bit of a burden, like gardening. That’s why I focus on the 10-minute garden affirmations and why this time of the year - when we’re laying the foundation for our summer gardens - is the perfect time for this reminder. 

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