🧄 We now have fresh Organic Garlic, Onion Sets & Shallots

FREE & FAST 🇺🇸 USA SHIPPING TODAY

Free w/any-size-order

FREESHIPNOW

Animal Hugger. Vegetarian. Organic Farmer in East Texas. Meet Melisa!

Melisa caught our eye after she began posting photos of her garden on our Instagram page.  We've been following her ever since!  One quick look at her Instagram page and you will see how talented she is. She is a true inspiration for anyone else looking make changes in their life style.

Check out the interview below to learn more about how she got started growing her own food and living off the land. From all of us at SeedsNow we are proud to introduce you to  Melisa aka TXMBIRDIE

How would you quickly describe yourself? 

Sunrise chaser. Nature lover. Animal hugger. Vegetarian. Dog nut. Organic farmer in East Texas.
 

What made you start living a healthy more self-sufficient life style? 

Five years ago I had this wild idea to up and move from my native home state of Arizona and to move to Texas. I knew that when my husband agreed to move from the state we adored to a new place that we were not familiar with, he was also ready for a big change. I started out with the intention to blog as a way to keep up with my friends back home.  I wanted them to see the drastically different lifestyle I was taking up since taking the plunge, following my dreams and moving to Texas.  Around the same time that I attempted to start blogging, I started using Instagram and immediately started to use that platform along with Facebook to share my farming and gardening adventures. I love photographing all the new growth in my garden. It’s quite fun snapping a picture of a beautiful new veggie or fruit growing in the garden and posting it for others to enjoy as well. Any time that I can combine my love of photography and gardening is a good thing.



Did you start your blog when you started your transition to live this life style?

I did start blogging around the same time that I transitioned to a more self-sufficient and healthy lifestyle.  I had been a vegetarian for 25+ years but never really attempted to grow my own food. My first attempt at gardening was such a great learning experience. It was filled with so many opportunities to learn and grow. That first season had so many ups and downs, but was worth every bit of frustration as the knowledge I gained is invaluable. I became so passionate about growing food, I wanted to share it with everyone I could.

Have you always been this way? 

Yes and no. I have to admit, I was not always mindful of being self-sufficient but I have always been very appreciative of the environment, farming and gardening. Unfortunately after living in a big city for most of my life, I became accustomed to the instant gratification, convenience and ease of just hopping in my car and running to a store down the street when I needed something for dinner. The thought of buying local rarely crossed my mind except when I would run across a cute farm stand when on a road trip or when I would go to visit my grandpa and he would make me weed his garden for hours at a time.  Who knew all those years of him trying to teach me to farm and garden would pay off all these years later?

What sparked your passion?  

Although I grew up in a big city, farming and gardening was in my blood.  When I was a small child my parents and I lived on my grandpa’s farm in Phoenix, AZ.  There he raised cattle, chickens, pigs and always had a plethora of vegetables and fruits growing each season. This was my very first experience to a more self-sufficient lifestyle. I have very vivid memories of days spent in the garden harvesting whatever he was growing and evenings spent enjoying the food we had harvested earlier in the day. I remember being a little girl and thinking that this lifestyle was what I wanted to live. Fast forward many years later to a time that I found myself ready to start an entirely new life that was centered on being more self-sufficient and being more aware of where our food was coming from. It literally was a lightbulb moment for me.  I remember sitting at work and suddenly thinking to myself it was time to make a drastic change… and so I did. My passion for growing our own healthy, organic food was truly sparked after I saw the excitement in my family’s eyes as they would see me bringing in food to be served that was just harvested from the garden. There’s nothing quite like homegrown goodness cultivated from hard work and love.


What are some of the other things you would like to have other people understand about living a healthier and self-sufficient life style? 

First and foremost, I would like others to know that there is nothing like growing your own food!  It is so rewarding! It feels so great to know that we have the ability to provide for our family and that we do not have to depend on anyone (or any store) to do so.

Another thing I often find myself sharing with others is that this self-sufficient lifestyle choice is definitely not always one of ease or convenience.  It can be incredibly hard, frustrating and disappointing at times, but it is worth it! The satisfaction you have when you finally figure out to make something, grow something or build something for your family, it is profoundly rewarding. The first time that I saw little sprouts popping up through my soil from newly planted seeds was such an exciting moment. That excitement grows from each experience that you have on your farming, gardening or homestead adventure. Soon, you will find yourself finding more and more ways to live on less, grow more food, conserve energy and be more self-sufficient.


What tips and tricks could you share with other people?  

I think one of the biggest things I would share with others is to remember that starting a life of being more self-sufficient is that it is a process, not an event.  It is not something that you can jump into in one single day and have it done perfectly right out of the gate.  It is many days of trying to do a bit better than the day before and building upon knowledge that you are learning.  As you try new things whether you are learning a new skill, getting dirty in the garden or building a new project that is challenging you, just remember to enjoy the journey and keep it fun! After all, if you are not enjoying whatever it is you are doing, why are you still doing it? Don’t get me wrong, some tasks on the farm are not totally enjoyable, but I do try to still have fun while doing them.

As for gardening, I do believe that one of the tips that I could pass along would be to learn your soil.  Once you learn what kind of soil you are using, you can take your growing so much further.  You can then figure out what grows really well in your area and go from there. Once you find out which vegetables excel for you in your garden, try to grow as much of them as your family can eat and then preserve, preserve, preserve!

The last tip that I would share with people is to continuously strive to learn new skills. For instance, this past year I set out to learn how to make homemade jam from the fruits we are growing here on our farm. It was so lovely having a pantry full of delicious homemade jam to use and to give away to friends. I also decided that I wanted to learn to make homemade soap, delicious homemade pies and how to preserve and can our food that we are growing. I took on all of those challenges and ended up becoming pretty proficient at them. When I first learned to do canning, I was so giddy as I heard the first pings of the lids sing to me to tell me that each one sealed correctly. There is something so empowering about learning how to do something new with your hands. 


Have you ever made mistakes or failed doing something?  

Oh yes! I have made plenty of mistakes and have failed at multiple things while following this journey. I do believe that it is in those teachable moments that I can grow as an individual. Many of my failures on the farm have created opportunities to slow down, re-evaluate and figure out another method of completion of the project at hand. One year we had a freak ice storm late in the spring that took out our entire garden in one swoop and boy was I mad, sad, frustrated and bewildered all at once.  I didn’t stay stuck on that frustration for long though-I stepped back and figured out what my next move was. I simply replanted everything and still got the results I was looking for, it just took longer to achieve. You can bet the following spring I was much more prepared for crazy weather and had row covers ready and waiting, just in case!


How did you overcome any obstacles?  

I simply learned to fail, but with a positive outlook. That was a hard lesson to learn at first. I kept learning in this process because I refused to give up. Sure, there were many times I would fail, but I would just keep trying.  If I couldn’t do something that I tried the first time, I would try again a second time and even a third time if necessary.  To overcome obstacles, I would keep at it until I learned whatever it was I was trying to accomplish. When I do find myself ready to throw in the towel on a project, I often think of one of my favorite quotes by Sumner Redstone: "Success is not built on success. It's built on failure. It's built on frustration. Sometimes it’s built on catastrophe." Now I just start each growing season being more prepared, more flexible and with plenty of hope for a great season.  I always remind myself that there is always another season and year to try again if it doesn’t go as planned.


Have you ever dealt with a person who disregards your life style?  

Unfortunately, yes. My husband and I have been told we are crazy for wanting to slow down, become more self-sufficient and live off our land. Some of our old friends do not agree with or understand our desire to be more in control of our lives. For us, becoming more self-sufficient was about creating a beautiful, simple life on our little farm and to be able to provide high quality organic food to our families. We try to stay positive despite the negativity that sometimes accompanies going on a different journey than those around you.

What are some of your greatest rewards with a lifestyle such as the one you live?


Our biggest goal from the beginning when my husband and I started dreaming about creating this kind of life was simple- we simply wanted a healthier more self-sufficient lifestyle.  We wanted to grow our own food, preserve and can what we could and live a life that had more meaning.  We really wanted to slow down, take a deep breath and enjoy the rural lifestyle with our family and friends. The greatest reward so far is seeing our farm guests get excited about being on our farm and heading straight out to the gardens to see what is growing. They love helping to harvest veggies and fruits and they all especially love the garden to table experience as well.

Another reason farming and gardening is rewarding is the connection to life and growth that it instills in each of us. Gardening instantly connects one with the environment and the earth in a way few activities do.  There’s something about being outside in nature and getting your hands dirty in the soil that you are working. You feel a sense of pride and responsibility as you tend to your farm and garden as things grow before you.

Lastly, one of the absolute greatest rewards with growing your own food is having a healthier diet. As you set out to grow your own food, you decide the seed in which you start with.  For us, we always go for a high quality, non-gmo, and organic seed to plant. Once you start growing high-quality organic fruits and veggies and you experience the farm fresh taste of those items, it really helps you appreciate the taste and flavor of foods again.

What's your favorite variety of crop to grow and why?



It seems each year I have a new favorite item to grow. Recently I loved growing a nice variety of lettuce, carrots and radishes because I love to make lots of salads. I do have to admit, my absolute favorite items to grow is peppers - hot ones, sweet ones… all kinds of peppers!

Our family loves all the various flavors of peppers and we love the added spice to meals they bring. Growing peppers takes time and commitment, but in the long run we are always satisfied with the results of our hard work. Besides, having an abundance of peppers means we have an abundance of fresh, homemade spicy salsa! Yum! 

Connect with "txmbirdie" on Instagram

Follow "State28Farm" in Facebook

Previous Next

👇 MORE ARTICLES & BLOG POSTS 👇 

SPRING & SUMMER GARDENING:

Spring Gardening Chore Checklist - View

Herbs & Veggies to Plant NOW for a Summer Garden - View

Heat Loving Veggies & Herbs You Can Grow RIGHT NOW in Summer! - View

12 Plants That You Can Grow This Summer To DETER Mosquitoes - View

Have a Better Summer Garden With These 7 Tips! - View

 

FALL & WINTER GARDENING:

5 Fall Vegetables Worth Growing In Containers This Year - View

Grow a Fall/Winter Harvest - Plant these seeds in July/August - View

Planting a Fall Garden. Step-by-Step - View

How to Store Vegetables for Winter - View

10 Vegetables You Can Over-Winterize - View

19 Frost Hardy Vegetables to Plant this Fall - View

Fall and Winter Gardening Made Easy - View

16 Crops To Plant NOW for Fall! - View

15 Vegetables You Should Be Planting NOW for a Fall Harvest - View

Tips for Starting Your First Fall Garden & 19 Crops That Can Withstand Freezing (or almost freezing) Temperatures! - View

Gardening Chores for January - View

Our TOP 10 Favorite Fall & Winter Gardening YouTube Videos! - View

19 Crops You Should Try Growing This Fall or Winter - View

TOP 9 QUICK GROWING CROPS FOR FALL & WINTER - View

It's Winter!  What to do in the garden now?! - View

Most Popular Seeds to Plant Now for Fall/Winter Gardening - View


SEED STARTING:

6 Tips That Every NEW Gardener Should Know  - View

Tips for Successfully Starting Your Seeds Indoors - View

Egg Carton Seed Trays - View

Use Muffin Tins To Start Your Seeds In! - View

How do I Know Which Seeds to Direct Sow and Which to Seeds to Start Indoors? - View

How to Get Better Germination From Your Seeds - View

9 Steps to Harden Off Seedlings - View

7 Tips For Using Rockwool To Start Your Seeds - View

Are you starting enough seeds? - View

What's the proper way to thin seedlings? 🌱 🌱 - View

Seed Planting & Spacing Cheat Sheet - View

WAIT!  Don't start these seeds indoors yet! - View

OK!  It's time to start these seeds indoors NOW! - View


RAISED BED GARDENING:

Tips on Building Perfect Raised Beds! - View

How to make a Hugelkultur Bed & What the heck is a Hugelkultur? - View

Great Materials For Making Raised Beds! - View

Build The Benefits of Raised Beds - View

How To Plant a Straw/Hay Bale Raised Bed - View


CONTAINER GARDENING:

5 Simple TIPS to Growing Herbs in Containers - View

6 Tips for Gardening in Containers - View

9 of The Best Vegetables to Grow in Small Gardens  - View

5 Fantastic Tips for Watering Your Container Garden - View

Small Space Gardening Ideas For Your Boat or RV - View

 

RANDOM POSTS:

Why You Should Join a Community Garden - View

Inspirational Gardening Quotes! - View

How To Make A Bean Teepee - View

How to Build a Vine Tee-Pee - View

How To Grow & Care For Your Strawberry Plants - View

How to Grow Perfect Parsnips - View

How Do You Cure Potatoes? - View

How To Tell When An Eggplant Is Ripe - View

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Squash Blossoms - View

4 Easy Steps to Dry & Cure the Small Ornamental Gourds You Grew! - View

8 Gardening Hacks You Need to Know - View

Tips for Growing More Food Indoors, All-Year-Long! - View

Everything you need to know about gardening through all the seasons - View

14 Green Fruits and Vegetables You Should Be Eating - View

How to Use a Mason Jar as a Cloche - View

Are You a First Time Gardener? Start Here! - View

5 Season Extension Techniques for Year-Round Gardening - View

32 Edible Perennials (or plants that can ACT like Perennials!) - View

How to Grow Your Own Salsa Garden - View

How To Make a Pizza Garden - View

How To Successfully Plant a Straw/Hay Bale Garden - View

The Secret to Building a Salad Keyhole Garden - View


SPROUTS & MICRO-GREENS:

How to Grow Sprouts at Home *Without Soil*  - View

How to Sprout Wheat Berries at Home in a Mason Jar - View

How to Grow Sprouts Easily at Home Using a Mason Jar-View

Micro-greens! The Benefits are anything but MICRO! - View


ANIMALS & PETS:

What to Plant for a Pet Friendly Garden - View

Which Plants Do Bunnies, Cats, Dogs, and Chickens Like to Eat? - View

How To Supplement Your Animal Feed by Growing Fodder at Home - View


WATERING:

Ways To Conserve Water in Your Vegetable Garden - View

8 Tips on How to Water More Efficiently - View


COMPOST, MULCH,  & SOIL AMENDMENTS:

Composting DO's and DON'Ts - View

18 Things You Should Never Compost - View

Your Vegetables Like Coffee, Just As Much As You Do! -   View

How to Use Coffee Grounds In Your Garden - View

How to Use Eggshells in Your Garden - View

How To Use Seaweed In Your Garden  - View


 


 

PESTS & PROBLEMS // GARDEN CONTROL:

Common Gardening Problems & How to Cure Them - View

How To Attract Beneficial Ladybugs Into Your Garden - View

Common Problems In the Garden and How To Fix Them! - View

3 Ways to Kill Weeds Naturally & Quickly - View

Learn How to Recognize and Prevent Mosaic Virus in Your Garden - View

4 Trap Plants You Should Be Growing To Help Deter Pests - View

8 Ways To Get Rid of Garden Pests (Without Any Chemicals!) - View

Natural Pest Control Methods - View

HELP!  My Plants are Tall, Thin, and Leggy.  What should I do? - View

How to Control Powdery Mildew, the Easy Way! - View

Plant THESE To Attract More BEES! - View

15 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes - View

Plants That Naturally Repel Mosquitoes - View

Use Beer To Kill Slugs - View

BEER = An Effective Method for Slug Control [Who Knew!?] - View

Why Won't My Root Veggies Grow? - View

How do You Use Epsom Salts to Fertilize Your Plants? - View


FLOWERS // HERBS // POLLINATORS:

Treat Your Ailments Naturally With Homegrown Herbs -  View

15 Herbs You Can Grow at Home To Make Your Own Tea - View

10 MUST GROW Plants for Herbal Tea Lovers - View

How to Grow an Indoor Herb Garden - View

Top 4 Air Purifying Herbs You Can Grow Indoors - View

11 Easy To Grow Medicinal Herbs - View

Healing Herbs That Anyone Can Grow at Home - View

Top 6 Culinary Herbs You Never Knew You Could Grow Indoors, During Winter! - View

27 Plants That Produce Edible Flowers - View

38 Edible Flowers To Plant In Your Garden - View

PRO Tips for Growing Wildflowers Successfully - View

How to Grow Beautiful and Healthy Sunflowers - View

Save the Bees! Plant a "Bee-Friendly" Garden Today! - View

 

LETTUCE,  SALAD, & LEAFY GREENS:

7 Tips and Tricks for {Fresh} Lettuce {Longer} - View

How to Grow a "Cut and Come Again" Salad Bar Garden - View

Make Ahead "Salad in a Jar”- View

The Secret to Building a Salad Keyhole Garden - View


PEPPERS:

How Hot Will My Peppers Be? Scoville Scale Heat-Ranking for Hot Peppers! - View

Tips on How To Successfully Germinate Hot Pepper Seeds -View

15 Super HOT Varieties Every Pepper Enthusiast Must Try! - View

Tips for Germinating HOT & SWEET Pepper Seeds - View

 

TOMATOES:

4 Ways to Ripen Green Tomatoes - View

Tips for Controlling Tomato Hornworms - View

How to Plant Tomatoes the Right Way - View

How to Make Pickled Tomatoes, In Just 5 Minutes - View

Spank Your Tomatoes! -Get More Fruit on Every Plant- - View

14 Companion Plants to Grow With Your Tomatoes! - View

 

GREENHOUSE:

Tips for Growing Better in a Greenhouse - View


HOOP HOUSE:

How to Build a "Hoop House" for your Fall and Winter Gardening! - View


HYDROPONICS & TOWER GARDEN:

15 Lettuce & Leafy Greens You Should Try Growing Hydroponically - View

80 Plants You Can Grow with Vertical Towers and Hydroponic Garden System! - View

How to Plant a Vertical Tower Garden - View

These are the most popular ways to grow food, Vertically! - View

Aquaponics: Why It Works! - View

Make A Vertical Planter with Terracotta Pots - View

 

SHADE:

How to Grow Vegetables and Herbs in Partial Shade - View

Which Vegetables & Herbs Grow Best in Light - Partial Shady Gardens?  - View


HEAT & DROUGHT:

Heat-Loving Varieties that Grow Great in the Southern States - View

33 Drought Tolerant Crops For Dry or Hot Climates - View

 

DIY PROJECTS:

How To Make Your Own Seed Tape - View

Make Ahead "Salad in a Jar”- View

Make a Tic Tac Toe Game For Your Garden - View

How to Make Watermelon Candy - View

[DIY] Honey-Lavender Luffa Gourd Soap - View

 

CANNING & PICKLING // RECIPES:

Everything You Need To Start Canning Your Homegrown Vegetables! - View

How Do I Can My Homegrown Vegetables? View

Best Crops to Grow For the Home Canner - View

How to Grow & Pickle Homegrown Peas - View

Create Easy Pickled Radishes in Less Than 5 Minutes - View

Which Vegetables are Best to Ferment? - View


OTHER RECIPES:

This is how you make the best hummus dip! DIY Recipe - View

How To Make Amazing Zucchini Chips - View

How to Make a Stuffed Zucchini Crocodile - View

7 Awesome Mint Drink Recipes - View

How to Roast Garlic in the Oven - View

 


 

••●••

Continue Shopping