BOILED SWEET POTATOES Have you tried boiling swee BOILED SWEET POTATOES 
Have you tried boiling sweet potatoes ? If so, what were your thoughts on the ? 

Sweet Potatoes are a very healing food especially if you grow them yourself. 

We used up all of our larger ones for baking and roasting & I stilI had quite a few of these tiny ones that I was going to compost, but then I heard that boiling them instead can boost their antioxidant power by 2-3X, making them even better for you. 

Boiling them also  makes them easier to digest and keep your blood sugar steady because they have a lower glycemic index! 

If you have tiny sweet potatoes, try boiling them…just cook until tender. The skin usually slips off
A simple, practical way to use the smaller harvest instead of composting. 

Do you usually boil or bake your sweet potatoes?

#sweetpotatoes #lowglycemicindex #healingfood #boiledveggies
Tiny seeds got you down? No worries! This little Tiny seeds got you down? 
No worries! This little trick will solve your problem. I think I first learned this trick from my friend @ Julia Dimakos. 

Tiny seeds like Snapdragons, Oregano, Lavendar, Rosemary are especially tiny and they are the ones that also have to be started early in January-February depending on your zone. 

What do you think? Would you try this hack or do you have other tricks for tiny seeds? Share them in the comments⬇️
This one is for @bj.brown8 “Don’t waste the wat This one is for @bj.brown8 

“Don’t waste the 
water”, my friend said. 

So simple. 

Are we really 
wasting water
when we pour it 
down the sink,
technically no it 
goes back into 
the system, 🌎
but for our plants 
that water could 
still do work! 

What are your thoughts? 

Is this just overkill or 
resourceful seed starting 
and gardening? 

#resourceful #seedstarting #dontwastewater
Afterall the Best Fall Garden cleanup is no cleanu Afterall the Best Fall Garden cleanup is no cleanup. 

Not sure if you noticed, but  I left a lot of branches on my perennials that I won’t clean up until spring. This is because leaving those branches with the seed heads not only feed the birds but also provide shelter for many native bees & insects. 

And don’t worry while we did shred some leaves we didn’t shred all of them. We also leave piles of them laying in the corners of our yard for the wildlife.
SEEDlLING CARE 101 Once they sprout, it’s time t SEEDlLING CARE 101 

Once they sprout, it’s time to take them off the heat mat and out from under the humidity dome. If you leave them in that warm, humid environment too long, they can get weak — and that’s when problems start.

So these little guys are headed under the grow lights in a 10×20 tray for bottom watering, and the rest are staying cozy until they’re ready.

There is seriously nothing better than seeing that first green come through the soil 🥹🌱

If you’re interested in the seed trays I’m using, comment SEEDS and I’ll send you the link in your DMs 💌✨

#seedstarting #gardeningtips #beginnergardener
Growing SPROUTS Grow your own fresh sprouts at h Growing SPROUTS 

Grow your own fresh sprouts at home! I’m loving this Seed Sprouter & using sandwich mix and salad mix sprouting seeds all from @botanical_interests 

1️⃣ Soak seeds 8–12 hrs in water (about 3× their depth).
2️⃣ Spread in a tray, single layer seeds will expand as they sprout!
3️⃣ Rinse 2-5 x daily with plenty of water then drain well.
4️⃣ Keep in indirect light; sprouts edible in 2–9 days.

💡 Tip: Once grown, store in the fridge and enjoy within 3–5 days for peak freshness!

Sprouts are easy, nutritious, and perfect on toast, salads, or bowls. 🥗

P.S. I am a @botanical_interests ambassador so you can get  5% off of this Seed Sprouter & all their products with CODE: MICHELLE 

Happy Sprouting! 

Follow👉 @michellesgardengrows for more Garden encouragement 😊 

#sprouts #growingsprouts #michellesgardengrows #sprouting
Grow Shelf Setup ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Getting my seed starting Grow Shelf Setup 

⬇️⬇️⬇️
Getting my
seed starting
setup ready.

Is it fancy?
No.

Are there
better versions?
Yes.

But this is
what I started with
as a beginner gardener
 six years ago. 

And it works.

Seriously though,
you don’t need 
full spectrum lights 
you can just use 
shop lights, 
but again I 
started with 
these lights and 
that’s what 
I’m still using.

You don’t need
perfect. 

You just need
to begin. 🌱

Happy Seed Starting 
💚Michelle @michellesgardengrows 

#seedstarting #seedstartingsupplies #michellesgardengrows #beginnergardener
❄️Winter Garden The snow has been here for almost ❄️Winter Garden 
The snow has been here
for almost a month ❄️

As you can see
 I didn’t get a chance
to clean up the garden
last fall.

And honestly…
I’m kind of glad I didn’t.

Old vines.
Frozen tomatoes.
Snow-covered beds.

It’s quiet.
It’s surprising.
It’s kind of magical. 
but also getting kind of old! 😬

Is your garden still covered in snow? Let me know in the comments!

#winter #gardentour #michellesgardengrows #snowygarden 

Do you still have snow in your garden?
SEED STARTING TIME 🌶️These are a few of the crops SEED STARTING TIME 
🌶️These are a few of the crops that really benefit from getting an early indoor start. I started these on Saturday February 7, 2026. 

If you’re a beginner gardener, I hope this video helps you feel a little less intimidated and a little more equipped! 

If you’d like my full guide on navigating the stages of indoor seed starting (from sowing to planting out), just comment SEEDS and I’ll send the blog post straight to your DMs 💌🌱

And remember everyone seed starts a little differently. This is what works well for me in my zone 7b & setup. 

Gardening isn’t about perfection… it’s about learning your rhythm. 💚

Happy seed starting! 
💚Michelle ~Michelles Garden Grows 

#seedstarting #beginnergardener #michellesgardengrows
New to gardening or just want an easy win this sea New to gardening or just want an easy win this season? 🌱

This Beginner’s Garden Bundle by @botanical_interests is a great way to help you start strong. It’s packed with dependable, beginner-friendly varieties that are easy to grow, forgiving if you’re learning, and rewarding to harvest.

Whether you’re planting in containers, raised beds, or a backyard garden, this bundle gives you a balanced mix of fresh greens, classic veggies, flavorful herbs, and joyful  blooms.

🌿 What’s included & When to plant. ⬇️

These both need a head start! Transplant outside after frost danger has passed and soil is warm⬇️

1. Early Jalapeño Chile Pepper (Organic) START INDOORS (8–10 weeks before last frost)
2. Gardener’s Delight Pole Cherry tomato: START INDOORS (🌱 6–8 weeks before your last frost date)

🌿 DIRECT SOW BEFORE OR AROUND LAST FROST (Cool-season crops)
3. Danvers 126 Carrot (Organic)
4. Farmer’s Market Blend Mesclun Lettuce
5. Lacinato “Dinosaur” Kale
These can handle cooler temps and light frost.

☀️ DIRECT SOW AFTER LAST FROST (Warm-season crops)
6. Blue Lake 274 Bush Bean (Organic)
7. Emerald Delight Summer Squash
8. Marketmore Cucumber (Organic)
9. Italian Genovese Basil (Organic)
10. Lilliput Zinnia (Organic)
11. Zohar Sunflower (Organic)

Wait until nighttime temps are consistently above 50°F and soil has warmed up.

🎁 Perfect for gifting or keeping your seeds organized as it comes in beautifully themed packaging for the season.

I am a botanical interests ambassador and have a special code for you to save⬇️

💸 Affiliate + Coupon:
Use my COUPON CODE: MGG5  at checkout to save 5% off your order.

https://glnk.io/73j50/michellesgardengrows  or find link in my bio 🌱)

Save this for planting season 🌱✨

Happy Seed Starting! 
💚Michelle 
👉@michellesgardengrows 

#seeds #beginnergarden #botanicalinterests #seedpackets
WINTER SOWING IN A MILK JUG (STEP-BY-STEP) 🚨 I WINTER SOWING 
IN A MILK JUG (STEP-BY-STEP) 

🚨 I forgot to show in the video that you’re supposed to poke holes in the bottom of the jugs, so don’t miss that step. 

1️⃣ Clean an empty milk jug
2️⃣ Poke drainage holes in the bottom
3️⃣ Cut the jug almost in half, leaving it attached under the handle
4️⃣ Fill with 3–4 inches of damp potting mix
5️⃣ Plant seeds (follow depth instructions — some stay on the surface)
6️⃣ Water gently
7️⃣ Close the jug and tape it shut
8️⃣ Remove the cap for ventilation
9️⃣ Label with seed name + date
🔟 Set outside in the sun — even snow is OK ❄️☀️

🌼 Let nature do the work
🌼 Open/vent on warm days once seeds sprout
🌼 Transplant when seedlings are ready

Perfect for cool-season veggies & cold-tolerant flowers like lettuce, pansies, and snapdragons!

#gardening #wintersowing #startingseeds
✅Landscape Fabric Have you tried this before? My ✅Landscape Fabric 
Have you tried this before?
My husband tried it for the first time last year and it worked great! He used leftover landscape fabric from years ago. Glad we finally found a way to use up that stuff because it didn’t work  in the yard 😂
🙏Praying everyone stay safe over the weekend!
🌿Growing more than gardens in 2026! And no, that d 🌿Growing more than gardens in 2026! And no, that doesn’t say grow your SOIL, although that’s a great idea too😂

New YT video is live! I’m sharing my garden-art Bibles + The Bible Recap plan to read through the Bible chronologically in 1 year. It’s not too late for you to join me! 

 ➡️ Details on YouTube (link in bio) or comment GROW & I’ll send the link to your DMS.
No more bagging leaves here. Before I became a g No more bagging leaves here. 

Before I became a gardener, we used to just bag up all our leaves in Hefty Lawn and Leaf plastic bags. 

In fact, the bags in the video were from someone in my neighborhood this year! 

But after getting into gardening, I learned how to use what I already have in my backyard more sustainably. 

We started mowing over the leaves with a bagged mower and using the shredded leaves as mulch around perennials, covering garden beds for the winter, and adding them to our compost bin since shredded leaves break down much faster. 

We also made leaf mold, which is amazing for the garden.

Last year, we got a chipper shredder from Harbor Freight-it not only handles the leaves but also shreds all the little twigs that fall from our trees, making yard cleanup so much easier. 

Shredding leaves is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to boost soil health, reduce waste, and nourish your plants naturally.

Do you leave the leaves entirely or do you shred them up for mulch & compost? 

~Michelle 

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden adventures
Upgrade your garden 👇 Black Friday SALE Nov 9 – D Upgrade your garden 👇

Black Friday SALE Nov 9 – Dec 1

✋DISCLOSURE: I am an Epic gardening ambassador and there is an affiliate link in this post which means if you buy through my link, I will make a small commission. 
✨ 25% OFF almost everything sitewide (and yes — my code MGG5 stacks for an extra 5% off = up to 30% off!)

If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your garden for spring or shop for the gardener in your life… this is THE sale. 🙌

Here’s what you unlock ⬇️
💵 $50+ Free Shipping
🎁 $100+ Choose: Veggie Bundle or 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack
🎁 $200+ Veggie Bundle + 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack
🎁 $400+ Epic Seed Bundle + 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack
🔥 Birdies Metal Raised Beds -25% OFF or BOGO 50%
🔥 Vertical Planters -25% OFF or BOGO 50%
🌱 Seed Starting Supplies -25% OFF
🪴 Grow Bags -25% OFF
🌿 Yes, even the GreenStalk planter is included!

These are my personal favorites in my own garden:
• Metal raised beds (we fully transitioned from wood & it’s been a game changer 🙌)
• Grow bags (we use them for blueberries + potatoes!)
• Seed trays (incredibly sturdy for winter starts)
• Harvest basket — I use it constantly 🤍

✨ Shop the Epic Gardening Sale 
https://shop.epicgardening.com/MGG5

⏳ Don’t wait, sale ends Dec 1!

💚 Use my code MGG5  at checkout for an extra 5% off — it stacks on top of the sale price for up to 30% off

Happy Gardening! 🌿💛 
Michelle 👉 @michellesgardengrows 

@epicgardening 
#epicgardening #gardenproducts #epicgardeningpartner
Do you do this too? 👇 I pray for my husband, coll Do you do this too? 👇

I pray for my husband, college-age son, and daughter, my relatives and friends, and my spiritual family: (my husband’s a congregational leader shepherds a community of Faith) and the women I coordinate in our Sisterhood women’s ministry. 

I also pray for our local officials & national leaders in the government .

Sometimes it’s hard to remember everyone, but garden tasks make it meditative. 

I say each name aloud, trusting God knows their needs beyond what some have already shared with me. 🙏❤️

Happy Gardening & Praying
💚Michelle 

👉 Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden & faith inspiration 

#pray #gardentip #marigolds #homegardener #peacefulliving #suburbangardening
Marigolds plus a @newmansown Salsa jar =a simple A Marigolds plus a @newmansown Salsa jar =a simple Autumn Bouquet. Now, if I can only make them last until Thanksgiving! 

I love @newmansown salsa and have saved so many of their jars. I have tons of marigolds and we’re getting our first real big frost in the next few days so I harvested a bunch of marigolds and made a bunch of bouquets.

I grew so many marigolds in my raised beds  this year. I only wish I could remember which variety I grew as  they have been amazing! I love that they’ve lasted this long too.

Have you tried making Marigold bouquets?

👉 follow along @michellesgardengrows for more gardening  inspiration 🌱

#marigolds #gardeninginspiration #bouquet #beginnergardener #raisedbedgardening
Sungolds for the win! Did you know that Sungold t Sungolds for the win! 
Did you know that Sungold tomatoes  are indeterminate tomatoes, which means they are a binging  tomato that will produce all summer long until the first frost, and actually mine have lasted even through a light frost! 

We are getting our first really cold temps on Monday, which will dip down into the high 20s degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, I’m  trying to salvage my last few Sungold tomatoes !

#tomato #sungoldtomatoes #raisedbedgardening #homegardener #novembergarden #indeterminate
Check back in June! Garlic isn’t as complicated Check back in June! 

Garlic isn’t as complicated as I once thought! At first, I was confused about when to plant when harvest, which end of the garlic goes into soil, whether to plant hard neck or soft neck and so forth 🌱🧄 

This year I planted Music garlic, a hardneck variety with big, flavorful cloves and tall scapes in spring. Hardneck garlic loves colder climates, softneck does better in warmer areas, and here in zone 7B, I can grow both!

As a Botanical Interests Ambassador, if you use my link https://www.botanicalinterests.com/MICHELLE you can shop any Botanical Interests or Epic Gardening products & get 5% off. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 💚✨

Who else is planting garlic this fall? Share your plans  below!

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden inspiration 

#gardeninspiration #garlic #beginnergardener #raisedbedgardening
I love stopping by @rockcoopgc @acehardware Their I love stopping by @rockcoopgc @acehardware 
Their Garden center is part of a farm cooperative here in Virginia called Rockingham Cooperative. 

The Garden Center staff Cynthia & Bobby are true gems: knowlegable & always ready to help. Plus they always have the @coastofmaineorganic soils I use in stock. 👏

I recently picked up Quoddy Blend Compost from there to prep for planting garlic. The compost will add structure & increase the soil health in my raised bed garden.

***I’ve been using Coast of Maine products for a few years now. I’m also a Coast Of Maine ambassador & this compost was a gifted to me. 

Feeding  the soil first is the secret to healthy plants.

Good soil. Good  garden. ✨

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows to see how this garlic grows & it being harvested next June. 📆

@ coastofmaineorganic 
#compost #healthysoil #raisedbedgardening #feedthesoil #virginiagardener
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Gardening Basics, Soil, Composting, & Fertilizing, Tools and Equipment · November 28, 2024

What I Learned Using the Vego Kitchen Composter: My Detailed Review

Vego Kitchen Composter on a kitchen counter

I’m always looking for ways to be more sustainable. An outdoor composting bin has become a natural part of my routine, but sometimes it can be a hassle, especially int he the winter.

So when Vego Garden reached out to ask me if I was interested in their Vego Kitchen Composter, I knew I had to give it a try! This compact, sleek, and smart appliance helps turn food scraps into a nutrient-rich soil amendment in no time, and I think you’re going to love how it works.

In this post, I’ll share what you’ll need to know about the Vego Kitchen Composter, from its specs to how it works and why it’s such a great option for anyone wanting to reduce food waste.

DISCLOSURE: First off you can find the companies information on the product here. They have a plethora of information on their website to help you have the best success with your composter. What I’m sharing in this post is my experience an overview of the product, its specs, how it works, and why it’s a great option.


AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: This post also contains affiliate links. When you are shopping through my links, I potentially earn a small commission on your purchases, but at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting my work here by shopping my links!


What is the Vego Kitchen Composter?

The Vego Kitchen Composter is a sleek, electric composter that allows you to process food scraps from your kitchen into a soil amendment quickly and efficiently. Unlike traditional composting methods, which take weeks to break down food waste, the Vego composter can turn those scraps into nutrient-rich soil amendment in less than 24 hours. It’s compact, easy to use, and perfect for urban dwellers, gardeners, or anyone trying to reduce their environmental impact.

What’s Included?

  • One Vego Kitchen Composter Device (comes in black or white)
  • Top Lid (I love that it’s clear so you can watch the whole process)
  • Inner Bucket
  • Power Supply Cord
  • Carbon Filter Box
  • Carbon Filter Refill Kit
  • Vego Tabs (These are not required, but help speed up the process
  • Vego Composter User Manual
  • Cheat Sheet of what you can compost (I hang mine on the fridge)
  • Vego tabs

Why Should You Use the Vego Kitchen Composter?

Okay, let’s talk about why you might want to add the Vego Kitchen Composter to your kitchen. Here are a few reasons:

  1. It Reduces Food Waste
    We’ve all been there—tossing out leftover vegetable peels, coffee grounds, or uneaten leftovers. According to the EPA food waste accounts for a huge chunk of what ends up in landfills, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. By composting, you can reduce that waste and contribute to a more sustainable planet.
  2. Nutrient-Rich Garden Soil Amendment
    The best part? The “compost” called Vego Meal is valuable for your garden. It’s a natural, chemical-free way to enrich your soil, improve plant health, and reduce your reliance on store-bought fertilizers.
  3. Sleek, Space-Saving Design
    Whether you live in an apartment or a house, the Vego Kitchen Composter is designed to fit right in. It’s compact enough for small kitchens and doesn’t take up a ton of space and looks nice.
  4. No Odors
    One of the biggest concerns with composting is the smell. Thankfully, the Vego composter comes with activated carbon filters to trap any odors, so your kitchen stays fresh.
  5. Whisper Quiet Operation

How Does the Vego Kitchen Composter Work?

You may be wondering, “How does this thing actually work?” Here’s the rundown:

  1. Add Your Kitchen Scraps
    Just add your food scraps, like vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and more, into the composter. (You’ll want to avoid meat, dairy, and oily foods, but we’ll get into that in a second.)
  2. Choose a Mode
    The Vego Kitchen Composter has four composting modes to choose from, depending on how quickly you want your compost to be ready:
    • Vego Mode (9-24 hours/cycle ): Enables continuous loading of kitchen scraps to create a rich soil amendment. You can open the lid to add kitchen scraps at anytime, without needing to remove the contents before the cycle is done.
    • Express Mode (2-8 hours/cycle): This is a non-compost mode designed to quickly process our kitchen waste, which allows an eco-friendly solution for green waste. This can be tossed into your outdoor compost bin, or Worm composter for secondary composting.
    • Fertilize Mode (9-22hrs/cycle): Produces a semi-composted material quickly and efficiently for garden use.
    • Grass Mode (11-24hrs/cycle): This provides additional grinding speeds up biodegradation, creating nutrient-rich, ready-to-use organic matter for your lawn.
    • Clean Mode: (0.5hrs/cycle): Designed to keep your device maintained.
  3. Wait for the Cycle to Complete
    Once you’ve added your scraps and selected your mode, the composter gets to work. It uses aerobic composting technology to break down food scraps quickly and efficiently.
  4. Use the Compost
    After the cycle is finished, you’re left with a batch of nutrient-rich compost that can be used for your garden, lawn, or even your houseplants.

Vego Kitchen Composter Features You’ll Love

Now, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of the specs. The Vego Kitchen Composter comes with some impressive features that make it a standout product for anyone interested in composting:

  • Smart App Control
    This isn’t a requirement, but if you’re interested in tracking your progress, adjust settings, and check the status of your compost from your phone, you’ll enjoy this feature. It will even show you how much in weight you are composting and your carbon Offset.
  • Four Composting Modes
    Whether you need compost fast or you’re looking for an eco-friendly, slower process, there’s a mode for everyone. I think the Vego Mode is an impressive feature as it allows me to keep adding scraps to a cycle, which is very useful in our household. Here’s a break down of the modes:
    • Vego Mode (9-24 hours/cycle ): Enables continuous loading of kitchen scraps to create a rich soil amendment. You can open the lid to add kitchen scraps at anytime, without needing to remove the contents before the cycle is done.
    • Express Mode (2-8 hours/cycle): This is a non-compost mode designed to quickly process our kitchen waste, which allows an eco-friendly solution for green waste. This can be tossed into your outdoor compost bin, or Worm composter for secondary composting.
    • Fertilize Mode (9-22hrs/cycle)
    • Grass Mode (11-24hrs/cycle): This provides additional grinding speeds up biodegradation, creating nutrient-rich, ready-to-use organic matter for your lawn.
    • Clean Mode: (0.5hrs/cycle): Designed to keep your device maintained.
  • Built-in Weighing System
    This feature ensures that the correct amount of food waste is added, optimizing the composting process.
  • Activated Carbon Filter
    The Vego composter uses an activated carbon filter to trap any odors, so your kitchen doesn’t smell like compost.
  • Quiet Operation
    If you’ve ever used a noisy kitchen gadget, you’ll appreciate how quiet the Vego composter is. It runs smoothly without disturbing your household.
  • Buttons and Lights
    • On/off Button: Press button to turn on the device and press for three second to turn off.
    • Light Button: Press once to turn the light on or off. The light will turn off after one minute.
    • Wi-fi Indicator
    • Progress Bar Indicator:
    • Vego Mode Button
    • Express Mode Button
    • Fertilize Mode button
    • Grass Mode Button
    • Clean Mode Button

Technical Specifications

Here’s the nerdy details from the user manual and/or website. This list is not exhaustive, but will give you a good start. You can find the exhaustive list here.

Pay close attention to the dimensions so you know how much space it takes up on your counter.

Here we go:

  • Dimensions: 14.37″ × 11.22″ x 12.64″
  • Product Weight (Out Of The Box): 16.64 lb
  •  Color: Black and White
  •  Capacity/Volume -4 L
  • Noise Level: < 50dB
  •  Waste Volume Reduction 85% -95%
  •  Power Input 120Vac, 60Hz, 400W
  •  Materials RoHS compliant, FDA compliance
  • Rated Power: 400W
  • Bluetooth 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
  • Safety Regulation & Certification: ETL & CETL, FCC, IC

What Can You Compost with the Vego Kitchen Composter?

Now that you know how the Vego Kitchen Composter works, let’s talk about what you can (and can’t) compost:

What You Can Compost:

  • Fruit and vegetable scraps (think potato peels, carrot tops, apple cores)
  • Coffee grounds and filters
  • Eggshells
  • Bread, grains, and pasta
  • Nuts and seeds

What You Can’t Compost:

  • Meat, fish, or dairy products
  • Oily or fatty foods
  • Bones
  • Non-organic materials (like plastic or glass)

Composting the right materials ensures that the process works efficiently and that you get the best compost for your garden.

PRO TIP:

Don’t leave your food scraps in the bucket for more than one day. I learned the hard way and my scraps got moldy. If you need to continuously add food scraps or will be away, this is a great time to use the Vego Mode.

How to set up your Vego Kitchen Composter



You can watch me setting up my Vego Kitchen Composter here

Initial Set-up

  • Unbox the Composter and check that all products are intact. Once you remove the lid, you’ll find the carbon filter refill kit inside along with the power cord from the inner bucket.
  • Place Composter on dry flat surface near a power source. They recommend placing it 6 inches away from walls to maintain sufficient air flow during the operation.
  • Install the Carbon Filter (this can by a little finicky)
  • Set up the App using the app you can download and install this on your smartphone to manage and monitor your composter.

Operating Your Composter

  1. Plug in your Device
  2. Press the on/off button to turn on the device
  3. Open the lid by turning towards the arrow and remove the bucket. (This part I find a bit finicky too). It involves holding the handle and turning it counterclockwise until the triangle symbol on the lid aligns with the “unlocked” position.
    • NOTE: You can leave the inner bucket in the machine and just add kitchen waste directly into it, which is what I do. But, you’ll have to remove the inner bucket for sure once the compost cycle is done so you can take it out to your garden to dump out the compost amendment. When you are ready to replace the inner bucket you will line those triangles up again. Again this part takes some finagling.
  4. Add Kitchen waste and VegoTabs into the bucket (you can chose whether or not you want to add the VegoTab though)
  5. Close the Lid and start your selected Mode

Where to Buy the Vego Kitchen Composter

If you’re ready to start composting in your kitchen, you can get your hands on the Vego Kitchen Composter here This Vego Kitchen Composter is an investment in sustainability and a great way to reduce your food waste without taking up much space!


Final Thoughts: Is the Vego Kitchen Composter Worth It?

After using the Vego Kitchen Composter for several months at the writing of this post, I can say it’s definitely worth considering if you’re looking for a way to reduce food waste and create valuable soil amendment for your garden. The app integration, odor control, and different composting modes along with it’s sleek aesthetic design make it a versatile and user-friendly choice. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just someone trying to make a more sustainable choice, the Vego Kitchen Composter is a smart addition to any kitchen. I highly recommend giving it a try!

In: Gardening Basics, Soil, Composting, & Fertilizing, Tools and Equipment · Tagged: Composting, Kitchen Composting, Reduce food waste, Sustainable Gardening, Vego Composter Review, Vego Kitchen Composter, zero waste, zero waste kitchen

October Garden Book Club: Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life by Marta McDowell

Garden Book Club, Garden Books · October 14, 2025

October Garden Book Club: Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life by Marta McDowell

If you’ve ever been charmed by Beatrix Potter’s stories, from Peter Rabbit to Jemima Puddle-Duck, this book offers a beautiful peek into the real gardens and landscapes that inspired her writing and art. Book Overview of Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life…

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BOILED SWEET POTATOES Have you tried boiling swee BOILED SWEET POTATOES 
Have you tried boiling sweet potatoes ? If so, what were your thoughts on the ? 

Sweet Potatoes are a very healing food especially if you grow them yourself. 

We used up all of our larger ones for baking and roasting & I stilI had quite a few of these tiny ones that I was going to compost, but then I heard that boiling them instead can boost their antioxidant power by 2-3X, making them even better for you. 

Boiling them also  makes them easier to digest and keep your blood sugar steady because they have a lower glycemic index! 

If you have tiny sweet potatoes, try boiling them…just cook until tender. The skin usually slips off
A simple, practical way to use the smaller harvest instead of composting. 

Do you usually boil or bake your sweet potatoes?

#sweetpotatoes #lowglycemicindex #healingfood #boiledveggies
Tiny seeds got you down? No worries! This little Tiny seeds got you down? 
No worries! This little trick will solve your problem. I think I first learned this trick from my friend @ Julia Dimakos. 

Tiny seeds like Snapdragons, Oregano, Lavendar, Rosemary are especially tiny and they are the ones that also have to be started early in January-February depending on your zone. 

What do you think? Would you try this hack or do you have other tricks for tiny seeds? Share them in the comments⬇️
This one is for @bj.brown8 “Don’t waste the wat This one is for @bj.brown8 

“Don’t waste the 
water”, my friend said. 

So simple. 

Are we really 
wasting water
when we pour it 
down the sink,
technically no it 
goes back into 
the system, 🌎
but for our plants 
that water could 
still do work! 

What are your thoughts? 

Is this just overkill or 
resourceful seed starting 
and gardening? 

#resourceful #seedstarting #dontwastewater
Afterall the Best Fall Garden cleanup is no cleanu Afterall the Best Fall Garden cleanup is no cleanup. 

Not sure if you noticed, but  I left a lot of branches on my perennials that I won’t clean up until spring. This is because leaving those branches with the seed heads not only feed the birds but also provide shelter for many native bees & insects. 

And don’t worry while we did shred some leaves we didn’t shred all of them. We also leave piles of them laying in the corners of our yard for the wildlife.
SEEDlLING CARE 101 Once they sprout, it’s time t SEEDlLING CARE 101 

Once they sprout, it’s time to take them off the heat mat and out from under the humidity dome. If you leave them in that warm, humid environment too long, they can get weak — and that’s when problems start.

So these little guys are headed under the grow lights in a 10×20 tray for bottom watering, and the rest are staying cozy until they’re ready.

There is seriously nothing better than seeing that first green come through the soil 🥹🌱

If you’re interested in the seed trays I’m using, comment SEEDS and I’ll send you the link in your DMs 💌✨

#seedstarting #gardeningtips #beginnergardener
Growing SPROUTS Grow your own fresh sprouts at h Growing SPROUTS 

Grow your own fresh sprouts at home! I’m loving this Seed Sprouter & using sandwich mix and salad mix sprouting seeds all from @botanical_interests 

1️⃣ Soak seeds 8–12 hrs in water (about 3× their depth).
2️⃣ Spread in a tray, single layer seeds will expand as they sprout!
3️⃣ Rinse 2-5 x daily with plenty of water then drain well.
4️⃣ Keep in indirect light; sprouts edible in 2–9 days.

💡 Tip: Once grown, store in the fridge and enjoy within 3–5 days for peak freshness!

Sprouts are easy, nutritious, and perfect on toast, salads, or bowls. 🥗

P.S. I am a @botanical_interests ambassador so you can get  5% off of this Seed Sprouter & all their products with CODE: MICHELLE 

Happy Sprouting! 

Follow👉 @michellesgardengrows for more Garden encouragement 😊 

#sprouts #growingsprouts #michellesgardengrows #sprouting
Grow Shelf Setup ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Getting my seed starting Grow Shelf Setup 

⬇️⬇️⬇️
Getting my
seed starting
setup ready.

Is it fancy?
No.

Are there
better versions?
Yes.

But this is
what I started with
as a beginner gardener
 six years ago. 

And it works.

Seriously though,
you don’t need 
full spectrum lights 
you can just use 
shop lights, 
but again I 
started with 
these lights and 
that’s what 
I’m still using.

You don’t need
perfect. 

You just need
to begin. 🌱

Happy Seed Starting 
💚Michelle @michellesgardengrows 

#seedstarting #seedstartingsupplies #michellesgardengrows #beginnergardener
❄️Winter Garden The snow has been here for almost ❄️Winter Garden 
The snow has been here
for almost a month ❄️

As you can see
 I didn’t get a chance
to clean up the garden
last fall.

And honestly…
I’m kind of glad I didn’t.

Old vines.
Frozen tomatoes.
Snow-covered beds.

It’s quiet.
It’s surprising.
It’s kind of magical. 
but also getting kind of old! 😬

Is your garden still covered in snow? Let me know in the comments!

#winter #gardentour #michellesgardengrows #snowygarden 

Do you still have snow in your garden?
SEED STARTING TIME 🌶️These are a few of the crops SEED STARTING TIME 
🌶️These are a few of the crops that really benefit from getting an early indoor start. I started these on Saturday February 7, 2026. 

If you’re a beginner gardener, I hope this video helps you feel a little less intimidated and a little more equipped! 

If you’d like my full guide on navigating the stages of indoor seed starting (from sowing to planting out), just comment SEEDS and I’ll send the blog post straight to your DMs 💌🌱

And remember everyone seed starts a little differently. This is what works well for me in my zone 7b & setup. 

Gardening isn’t about perfection… it’s about learning your rhythm. 💚

Happy seed starting! 
💚Michelle ~Michelles Garden Grows 

#seedstarting #beginnergardener #michellesgardengrows
New to gardening or just want an easy win this sea New to gardening or just want an easy win this season? 🌱

This Beginner’s Garden Bundle by @botanical_interests is a great way to help you start strong. It’s packed with dependable, beginner-friendly varieties that are easy to grow, forgiving if you’re learning, and rewarding to harvest.

Whether you’re planting in containers, raised beds, or a backyard garden, this bundle gives you a balanced mix of fresh greens, classic veggies, flavorful herbs, and joyful  blooms.

🌿 What’s included & When to plant. ⬇️

These both need a head start! Transplant outside after frost danger has passed and soil is warm⬇️

1. Early Jalapeño Chile Pepper (Organic) START INDOORS (8–10 weeks before last frost)
2. Gardener’s Delight Pole Cherry tomato: START INDOORS (🌱 6–8 weeks before your last frost date)

🌿 DIRECT SOW BEFORE OR AROUND LAST FROST (Cool-season crops)
3. Danvers 126 Carrot (Organic)
4. Farmer’s Market Blend Mesclun Lettuce
5. Lacinato “Dinosaur” Kale
These can handle cooler temps and light frost.

☀️ DIRECT SOW AFTER LAST FROST (Warm-season crops)
6. Blue Lake 274 Bush Bean (Organic)
7. Emerald Delight Summer Squash
8. Marketmore Cucumber (Organic)
9. Italian Genovese Basil (Organic)
10. Lilliput Zinnia (Organic)
11. Zohar Sunflower (Organic)

Wait until nighttime temps are consistently above 50°F and soil has warmed up.

🎁 Perfect for gifting or keeping your seeds organized as it comes in beautifully themed packaging for the season.

I am a botanical interests ambassador and have a special code for you to save⬇️

💸 Affiliate + Coupon:
Use my COUPON CODE: MGG5  at checkout to save 5% off your order.

https://glnk.io/73j50/michellesgardengrows  or find link in my bio 🌱)

Save this for planting season 🌱✨

Happy Seed Starting! 
💚Michelle 
👉@michellesgardengrows 

#seeds #beginnergarden #botanicalinterests #seedpackets
WINTER SOWING IN A MILK JUG (STEP-BY-STEP) 🚨 I WINTER SOWING 
IN A MILK JUG (STEP-BY-STEP) 

🚨 I forgot to show in the video that you’re supposed to poke holes in the bottom of the jugs, so don’t miss that step. 

1️⃣ Clean an empty milk jug
2️⃣ Poke drainage holes in the bottom
3️⃣ Cut the jug almost in half, leaving it attached under the handle
4️⃣ Fill with 3–4 inches of damp potting mix
5️⃣ Plant seeds (follow depth instructions — some stay on the surface)
6️⃣ Water gently
7️⃣ Close the jug and tape it shut
8️⃣ Remove the cap for ventilation
9️⃣ Label with seed name + date
🔟 Set outside in the sun — even snow is OK ❄️☀️

🌼 Let nature do the work
🌼 Open/vent on warm days once seeds sprout
🌼 Transplant when seedlings are ready

Perfect for cool-season veggies & cold-tolerant flowers like lettuce, pansies, and snapdragons!

#gardening #wintersowing #startingseeds
✅Landscape Fabric Have you tried this before? My ✅Landscape Fabric 
Have you tried this before?
My husband tried it for the first time last year and it worked great! He used leftover landscape fabric from years ago. Glad we finally found a way to use up that stuff because it didn’t work  in the yard 😂
🙏Praying everyone stay safe over the weekend!
🌿Growing more than gardens in 2026! And no, that d 🌿Growing more than gardens in 2026! And no, that doesn’t say grow your SOIL, although that’s a great idea too😂

New YT video is live! I’m sharing my garden-art Bibles + The Bible Recap plan to read through the Bible chronologically in 1 year. It’s not too late for you to join me! 

 ➡️ Details on YouTube (link in bio) or comment GROW & I’ll send the link to your DMS.
No more bagging leaves here. Before I became a g No more bagging leaves here. 

Before I became a gardener, we used to just bag up all our leaves in Hefty Lawn and Leaf plastic bags. 

In fact, the bags in the video were from someone in my neighborhood this year! 

But after getting into gardening, I learned how to use what I already have in my backyard more sustainably. 

We started mowing over the leaves with a bagged mower and using the shredded leaves as mulch around perennials, covering garden beds for the winter, and adding them to our compost bin since shredded leaves break down much faster. 

We also made leaf mold, which is amazing for the garden.

Last year, we got a chipper shredder from Harbor Freight-it not only handles the leaves but also shreds all the little twigs that fall from our trees, making yard cleanup so much easier. 

Shredding leaves is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to boost soil health, reduce waste, and nourish your plants naturally.

Do you leave the leaves entirely or do you shred them up for mulch & compost? 

~Michelle 

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden adventures
Upgrade your garden 👇 Black Friday SALE Nov 9 – D Upgrade your garden 👇

Black Friday SALE Nov 9 – Dec 1

✋DISCLOSURE: I am an Epic gardening ambassador and there is an affiliate link in this post which means if you buy through my link, I will make a small commission. 
✨ 25% OFF almost everything sitewide (and yes — my code MGG5 stacks for an extra 5% off = up to 30% off!)

If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your garden for spring or shop for the gardener in your life… this is THE sale. 🙌

Here’s what you unlock ⬇️
💵 $50+ Free Shipping
🎁 $100+ Choose: Veggie Bundle or 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack
🎁 $200+ Veggie Bundle + 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack
🎁 $400+ Epic Seed Bundle + 4-Cell Seed Tray 8-Pack
🔥 Birdies Metal Raised Beds -25% OFF or BOGO 50%
🔥 Vertical Planters -25% OFF or BOGO 50%
🌱 Seed Starting Supplies -25% OFF
🪴 Grow Bags -25% OFF
🌿 Yes, even the GreenStalk planter is included!

These are my personal favorites in my own garden:
• Metal raised beds (we fully transitioned from wood & it’s been a game changer 🙌)
• Grow bags (we use them for blueberries + potatoes!)
• Seed trays (incredibly sturdy for winter starts)
• Harvest basket — I use it constantly 🤍

✨ Shop the Epic Gardening Sale 
https://shop.epicgardening.com/MGG5

⏳ Don’t wait, sale ends Dec 1!

💚 Use my code MGG5  at checkout for an extra 5% off — it stacks on top of the sale price for up to 30% off

Happy Gardening! 🌿💛 
Michelle 👉 @michellesgardengrows 

@epicgardening 
#epicgardening #gardenproducts #epicgardeningpartner
Do you do this too? 👇 I pray for my husband, coll Do you do this too? 👇

I pray for my husband, college-age son, and daughter, my relatives and friends, and my spiritual family: (my husband’s a congregational leader shepherds a community of Faith) and the women I coordinate in our Sisterhood women’s ministry. 

I also pray for our local officials & national leaders in the government .

Sometimes it’s hard to remember everyone, but garden tasks make it meditative. 

I say each name aloud, trusting God knows their needs beyond what some have already shared with me. 🙏❤️

Happy Gardening & Praying
💚Michelle 

👉 Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden & faith inspiration 

#pray #gardentip #marigolds #homegardener #peacefulliving #suburbangardening
Marigolds plus a @newmansown Salsa jar =a simple A Marigolds plus a @newmansown Salsa jar =a simple Autumn Bouquet. Now, if I can only make them last until Thanksgiving! 

I love @newmansown salsa and have saved so many of their jars. I have tons of marigolds and we’re getting our first real big frost in the next few days so I harvested a bunch of marigolds and made a bunch of bouquets.

I grew so many marigolds in my raised beds  this year. I only wish I could remember which variety I grew as  they have been amazing! I love that they’ve lasted this long too.

Have you tried making Marigold bouquets?

👉 follow along @michellesgardengrows for more gardening  inspiration 🌱

#marigolds #gardeninginspiration #bouquet #beginnergardener #raisedbedgardening
Sungolds for the win! Did you know that Sungold t Sungolds for the win! 
Did you know that Sungold tomatoes  are indeterminate tomatoes, which means they are a binging  tomato that will produce all summer long until the first frost, and actually mine have lasted even through a light frost! 

We are getting our first really cold temps on Monday, which will dip down into the high 20s degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, I’m  trying to salvage my last few Sungold tomatoes !

#tomato #sungoldtomatoes #raisedbedgardening #homegardener #novembergarden #indeterminate
Check back in June! Garlic isn’t as complicated Check back in June! 

Garlic isn’t as complicated as I once thought! At first, I was confused about when to plant when harvest, which end of the garlic goes into soil, whether to plant hard neck or soft neck and so forth 🌱🧄 

This year I planted Music garlic, a hardneck variety with big, flavorful cloves and tall scapes in spring. Hardneck garlic loves colder climates, softneck does better in warmer areas, and here in zone 7B, I can grow both!

As a Botanical Interests Ambassador, if you use my link https://www.botanicalinterests.com/MICHELLE you can shop any Botanical Interests or Epic Gardening products & get 5% off. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 💚✨

Who else is planting garlic this fall? Share your plans  below!

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows for more garden inspiration 

#gardeninspiration #garlic #beginnergardener #raisedbedgardening
I love stopping by @rockcoopgc @acehardware Their I love stopping by @rockcoopgc @acehardware 
Their Garden center is part of a farm cooperative here in Virginia called Rockingham Cooperative. 

The Garden Center staff Cynthia & Bobby are true gems: knowlegable & always ready to help. Plus they always have the @coastofmaineorganic soils I use in stock. 👏

I recently picked up Quoddy Blend Compost from there to prep for planting garlic. The compost will add structure & increase the soil health in my raised bed garden.

***I’ve been using Coast of Maine products for a few years now. I’m also a Coast Of Maine ambassador & this compost was a gifted to me. 

Feeding  the soil first is the secret to healthy plants.

Good soil. Good  garden. ✨

👉Follow along @michellesgardengrows to see how this garlic grows & it being harvested next June. 📆

@ coastofmaineorganic 
#compost #healthysoil #raisedbedgardening #feedthesoil #virginiagardener

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