About Us

Welcome to Simple Garden Joy — your friendly guide to growing beautiful gardens, no matter how much space you have.

Whether you’re tending a sprawling backyard, a cozy balcony, or a sunny windowsill, we believe everyone deserves the joy of watching something grow. Gardening isn’t just about plants—it’s about connection to nature, the satisfaction of nurturing life, and the simple pleasure of getting your hands dirty.

Our Mission

At Simple Garden Joy, our mission is to make gardening accessible, enjoyable, and successful for gardeners of all skill levels. We provide:

  • Practical, step-by-step guidance you can follow from seed to harvest
  • Evidence-based advice grounded in horticultural science and real-world testing
  • Solutions for small spaces including containers, balconies, and urban gardens
  • Sustainable practices that work with nature, not against it

We believe gardening should be a source of joy, not stress. That’s why we focus on simple, proven techniques that work.

What We Cover

Simple Garden Joy offers comprehensive gardening guidance across all the essentials:

Edible Gardening

  • Vegetable growing guides
  • Herb gardens and culinary plants
  • Container food gardening
  • Seed starting techniques
  • Harvesting and storage

Ornamental Gardens

  • Flower garden design
  • Perennials and annuals
  • Seasonal color planning
  • Cut flower gardens
  • Pollinator-friendly plants

Small-Space Gardening

  • Container gardening essentials
  • Balcony and patio gardens
  • Vertical gardening techniques
  • Indoor gardening tips
  • Urban garden solutions

Garden Care

  • Soil health and composting
  • Organic pest management
  • Watering and fertilization
  • Seasonal maintenance
  • Plant troubleshooting

Our Approach: Tested & Trusted

Every piece of advice on Simple Garden Joy comes from real gardening experience combined with horticultural research:

  1. Research-Backed — We consult university extension services, horticultural societies, and peer-reviewed studies.
  2. Personally Tested — Our team grows what we recommend. If a technique doesn’t work in our gardens, we don’t suggest it.
  3. Beginner-Friendly — We explain gardening concepts in plain language, without unnecessary jargon.
  4. Climate-Aware — We acknowledge that gardening varies by region and provide adaptable guidance.
  5. Sustainable Focus — We prioritize organic methods, water conservation, and working with natural systems.

Meet Our Gardening Team

Simple Garden Joy is cultivated by a team of passionate gardeners, horticulturists, and plant enthusiasts who bring decades of combined growing experience.

Maya Chen — Lead Editor & Urban Gardening Specialist

Maya has been gardening for 12+ years, specializing in small-space and container gardening. With a certificate in urban horticulture and experience managing community gardens, she’s passionate about helping apartment dwellers and urban gardeners maximize their growing potential. Maya has successfully grown vegetables on balconies, rooftops, and even fire escapes.

Expertise: Container gardening, balcony vegetables, vertical growing systems, small-space design

Rachel Carter — Organic Vegetable Expert

Rachel brings 15+ years of organic vegetable gardening experience and certification as a Master Gardener through her state’s extension program. She’s grown everything from heirloom tomatoes to exotic Asian vegetables, and specializes in season extension, seed saving, and integrated pest management.

Credentials: Certified Master Gardener, Certificate in Organic Agriculture, USDA Zones 5-6 specialist

Jonas Lindberg — Ornamental Garden & Design Contributor

Jonas is a professional landscape designer with 10+ years of experience creating beautiful, sustainable gardens. He holds a degree in Landscape Architecture and specializes in pollinator gardens, native plants, and seasonal interest planning. Jonas believes that every garden should be as functional as it is beautiful.

Credentials: B.S. in Landscape Architecture, Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH), Native Plant Society member

Contributing Experts

We also collaborate with:

  • University Extension Specialists — Horticultural experts from land-grant universities
  • Certified Permaculture Designers — Sustainable gardening practitioners
  • Soil Scientists — Experts in soil health and composting
  • Entomologists — Specialists in beneficial insects and pest management
  • Master Gardeners — Certified volunteers with extensive training

Our Editorial Standards

Gardening advice should be trustworthy. Here’s how we ensure quality:

  1. Credible Sources — We reference university extension services (Michigan State, Cornell, UC Davis), the Royal Horticultural Society, and horticultural research.
  2. Real-World Testing — Our team tests techniques in various climates and conditions before recommending them.
  3. Expert Review — Master Gardeners and horticulturists review content for accuracy.
  4. Climate Considerations — We note when advice is region-specific and provide adaptations.
  5. Update Cycle — We review seasonal content annually to ensure current best practices.

Who This Site Is For

Simple Garden Joy welcomes gardeners at every stage:

  • Absolute Beginners — New to gardening and looking for simple, successful first projects
  • Container Gardeners — Growing in pots, planters, and limited spaces
  • Urban Gardeners — Apartment dwellers, balcony growers, and city gardeners
  • Vegetable Growers — Anyone wanting to grow their own food
  • Flower Enthusiasts — Gardeners focused on beauty and pollinators
  • Experienced Gardeners — Looking for new techniques and plant varieties

Our Values

Accessibility

Gardening shouldn’t require a big yard or expensive equipment. We show you how to garden wherever you are, with what you have.

Sustainability

We promote organic methods, water conservation, composting, and working in harmony with nature’s cycles.

Honesty

We share what works AND what doesn’t. Not every plant succeeds, and we’re transparent about challenges.

Joy

Gardening should be fun! We celebrate successes, learn from failures, and remember to enjoy the journey.

Why Trust Simple Garden Joy?

  • ✅ 35+ years combined gardening experience across diverse climates
  • ✅ Certified professionals — Master Gardeners, CPH, Landscape Architecture degree
  • ✅ Evidence-based content from university extensions and horticultural research
  • ✅ Real-world testing — we grow what we recommend
  • ✅ Expert review by certified horticulturists
  • ✅ Transparent sourcing — we cite universities and research organizations
  • ✅ Beginner-friendly — no gatekeeping, just helpful guidance

Get In Touch

We’d love to hear about your garden! Questions, success stories, or collaboration ideas:

Thank you for growing with Simple Garden Joy.
May your garden bring you as much joy as it brings us to help you grow it.

Last updated: October 16, 2025