Jasmine is the founding editor of Black Girls With Gardens and she describes the entire journey as – fun and nothing like work on the most busiest days. Often asked where did BGWG come about, she states that BGWG was created because she have yet to see a platform helping women of color learn more about representation in horticulture.
Like any other plant mama, she answered our plant mama questions you can see below:
What type of garden do you have?
I currently grow mostly herbs, some simple vegetables, and random indoor plants all in containers.
What level of gardener do you rate yourself?
Well, I’m no newbie, but I learn new things daily.
What inspired you to start your garden?
I come from a long line of gardeners. Watching my maternal and paternal grandmothers (and mom) spend weekends re-potting new plants, re-arranging their landscape, and hours in nursery was everyday life to me. I remember traveling locally and far and stopping to “root” flowers we found on the side of the road. I guess I was groomed to love gardening before I knew I did.
My container garden is the product of a time where I was busy beyond and living a life of work work work and little to no self care. I always said I wanted to curated my own garden, but I didn’t know where to start. My last grandmother passed away and left me with her plants and I reconnected with what was always in me. Now, plants are to me what I am to others- healers. I have so much in common with them.
What does being a plant mama do for you? Is it a form of self care? Coping method?
Definitely, my garden is my happy space and I like to think it is a form of self care. Watering my flowers, can be a reflection of watering myself.
What do you love the most about gardening?
Being the founder of Black Girls With Gardens! Seriously, gardening is so rewarding. The results – bad or good – are similar to “you get from the universe what you put in” and I love it. Also, I love how gardening bring myself and other women of color together. The support is comparable to an ethereal vibe that is necessary in our culture. Of course, producing for ourselves is super important now and I love our new found curiosity in growing our own food.
What do you dislike the most about gardening?
Pest! I hate pest – its funny because my closest family members and friends know I cannot stand bugs, but find it so shocking how long I stay in my garden.
What do you struggle the most with in your garden or gardening in general?
In the beginning, I killed all my sage, lavender, and rosemary at least 4 times. Between overwatering and underwatering, they didn’t stand a chance. Now, I just let those plants tell me what they want when they want it. There is no “regimen’ for them.
Tell us something unique and different about you and your garden.
My garden is all in containers, separated by their current health, and I love #TrapGardening. Trap gardening is basically me playing trap music for my plants- daily. if you follow the hashtag #TrapGardening on Instagram, you’ll see my gardening shenanigans.
Daily Routine
After meditating, I make my way to my garden to assess every plant I own. I’m normally outside anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours if necessary. It really depends on what I have planned for the day. Some days I might need to re-pot new plants or preparing the upcoming season, others is just for watering. Nonetheless after assessment, I water who needs to be watered, check the calendar to see who needs to be feed (read more about herbs and fertilizers) , look for pests (I hate em), check soil for health. Assessments includes checking out what exactly my plants look like. This way I know what has changed since yesterday. If my mint leaves are yellow, something must have happened overnight etc.
Jasmine’s Favorites
Neptune’s Harvest FS118 Fish & Seaweed Blend Fertilizer 2-3-1, 18 oz
Antique Finish Spring Decorative Watering Can (Green)
Bloem PB12-46 Dura Cotta Planter Bowl, 12-Inch, Terra Cotta
Jasmine is the author of all of our ebooks! She is determined to making growing easy and affordable for everyone! check out her latest published ebooks below!
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