About Michelle

Hi, I’m Michelle, a licensed RN, BSN, self-taught suburban gardener, and the creator of Michelle’s Garden Grows in Southwest Virginia.

I came to gardening in mid- life, but it quickly became much more than a hobby. Today, I share practical gardening education, resources, and inspiration through my website, YouTube channel, and Instagram, helping everyday gardeners grow food, cultivate beauty, and create backyard spaces that support both people and nature.

My nursing background influences the way I approach gardening and education. I’m naturally curious and observant, and I believe some of the best lessons come from paying attention to the plants, the soil, the seasons, and the life happening all around us.

My work celebrates gardening as a way to nourish ourselves, connect with nature, support wildlife, and create a greater sense of beauty, purpose, and belonging. I’m especially passionate about helping homeowners build raised-bed garden space that nurtures them as well as supports nature, working with it rather than against it.

How My Garden Story Began

I dreamed of having a garden from the time I was a child, but for many years, life simply didn’t leave room for it.

Years of working as an RN, raising my children, caring for an aging parent, and serving in ministry alongside my husband kept me busy. Eventually, life entered a new season and I finally had the margin to begin the garden I had imagined for so long.

With my husband’s support, I started with a few raised beds in our suburban backyard. What began as a small garden quickly grew into a thriving garden sanctuary filled with fresh food, flowers, pollinators, wildlife, and lessons learned through every season.

Our children are now young adults. My daughter is in college and my son recently graduated from Virginia Tech, and they continue to inspire me every day. As our family has entered this new season of life, gardening has become an even more meaningful part of mine.

You can watch more of my garden story [here].

From a Garden to a Growing Community

In 2021, I launched Michelle’s Garden Grows on Instagram to document my gardening journey.

What began as a personal record of what I was learning gradually grew into a community of gardeners looking for practical information, encouragement, inspiration, and a place to share in the joy of growing.

In 2025, I expanded Michelle’s Garden Grows with this website as a central hub for gardening education, resources, and stories from my own garden.

Today, I create content around gardening, plants, nature, seasonal living, and the lessons that come from tending a garden sharing both what works and what doesn’t along the way. My hope is that what I share gives you the knowledge and confidence to grow something of your own and that, along the way, you discover the same sense of wonder, connection, and joy that I have found in my garden.

For information about media features, partnerships, collaborations, and speaking opportunities, visit my Press & Publications page or Media Kit.