By the time autumn rolls around, many people have given up on their plants and gardens. The heat of August and September has taken its toll, and the lure of fun fall activities sounds more appealing than yard chores. Still, there are some individuals who really love plants no matter the weather because of the vast benefits they derive from working with them.
Growing for health
Jeffersontown resident Alethea Victor didn’t begin her gardening journey until 2020 when, like so many people, she had extra time on her hands. But the real motivation behind her interest in growing her own food was health concerns related to the use of pesticides and the increase in foodborne illnesses.
“I had been watching a neighbor’s garden,” she recalls. “It started very small, and I saw it grow over the years, so I started asking questions.” She also sought the advice of an acquaintance at church. Still, Alethea says that with her first raised bed, “Everything we did was wrong — nothing grew.” At this point, she went back to the drawing board and actually put in the time to learn. “There is a skill to this,” she says.
Although now Alethea has 21 raised beds, 30 garden pots, and a small orchard, she didn’t begin at that level. She started small, which is her advice for anyone interested in growing plants, whether they are for sustenance, supporting biological diversity, or beautification. “I started with about six raised beds and a couple containers, and to me, that was huge,” she says.
Alethea began gardening for her family’s physical health, but her mental health has been transformed too. “After a long, stressful day, being able to come to a space that is enriching for your own soul is my favorite aspect,” she says. “Decompressing, relaxing, getting grounded, and spending time out in nature enriches my body.”
Alethea’s enthusiasm for gardening has also led to the start of her small business, GroLeafy, where she sells herbal teas made from the various herbs she grows. She offers classes for people who, like her at the beginning of her journey, don’t know what they are doing. She has a Youtube channel as well (GroLeafy with Alethea) where she shares insights she has gained over the years.
While she is busiest in the summer, Alethea does a lot of preparation work in the fall and winter by adding compost and other amendments to her soil. “I walk into spring ready to plant,” she says. She also searches catalogs and looks for sales on seeds and other gardening tools, which often happen in November.
By Carrie Vittitoe | Photos by Melissa Donald
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