How to Start a Simple Kitchen Garden (No Experience Needed!)
Want to grow your own food but feel unsure where to start? Learn how to start a simple kitchen garden. No experience needed! Perfect for homesteaders at heart.
One of the simplest joys of old-fashioned living is stepping into the kitchen, and reaching for something fresh you’ve grown yourself. 🌿
For generations, homemakers tended small kitchen gardens, whether a big garden plot or just a few pots of herbs by the door.
You don’t need acres of land to enjoy this blessing. You can start a simple kitchen garden right where you are…no experience needed!
Today I’m sharing how, and why, this is one of the best homesteading skills you can begin, no matter where you live.
What is a Kitchen Garden?
A kitchen garden (sometimes called a “potager”) is simply a small garden space where you grow foods and herbs to use in your everyday cooking.
It’s about practicality, beauty, and stewardship of what God has provided. Bringing simple nourishment into your home, right from your own hands.
Why Start a Kitchen Garden?
✅ Save money — herbs and greens are expensive to buy!
✅ Eat fresher, healthier foods
✅ Teach children where their food comes from
✅ Practice stewardship — even in a small space
✅ Enjoy the peace of tending a growing thing
✅ Embrace vintage homemaking skills — this is what great-grandma did!
How to Start a Simple Kitchen Garden (No Experience Needed!)
1️⃣ Start Small — One or Two Things
You don’t need to plant a whole garden right away. Start with:
→ A pot of basil on the windowsill
→ A few lettuce plants in a patio container
→ A single tomato plant in a grow bag
Simple is beautiful, and it keeps you from feeling overwhelmed.
2️⃣ Grow What You’ll Actually Use
Think about your family’s meals. What do you cook often? Start there.
✅ Herbs — basil, parsley, thyme, mint
✅ Salad greens — lettuce, spinach, arugula
✅ Tomatoes — cherry or paste types are great for beginners
✅ Peppers — easy to grow in pots
✅ Green onions — can even regrow from kitchen scraps!
3️⃣ Choose Your Space
A kitchen garden can be:
→ A sunny windowsill indoors
→ A small raised bed
→ A few pots on a porch or deck
→ An in-ground row near your kitchen door
Look for a spot that gets 6+ hours of sunlight, most food plants love the sun!
4️⃣ Keep It Simple and Joyful
Don’t feel like you have to “do it all.”
The beauty of learning how to start a simple kitchen garden is that it’s small, personal, and easy to tend.
Spend a few minutes watering in the morning, snip herbs for dinner, pull a few weeds while you’re outside — these small rhythms become a life-giving part of homemaking.
5️⃣ Learn as You Go
You don’t have to know about how to start a simple kitchen garden before you begin, part of the joy of vintage homemaking is learning along the way.
Each season teaches you something new. And children LOVE helping with gardening. It’s one of the simplest ways to teach them faith, patience, and gratitude.
Follow Me On YouTube
👉 For more vintage homemaking inspiration, from-scratch cooking, and simple living, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel! I love sharing glimpses of our old-fashioned life and practical tips to encourage you in your homemaking journey. Come join me there! 🌿
Closing Encouragement
Friend, you can do this.
Even one pot of herbs is a step toward a more old-fashioned, intentional way of living.
Start small. Grow what you love. And let your kitchen garden become a place of simple joy this summer. 🌿
“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind…” (Genesis 1:12)
👉 If you’d like more encouragement on simple homesteading skills, be sure to read:
5 Homestead Skills Anyone Can Learn (Even Without Land!)
How to Produce More at Home
Why Great Grandma Could Do It All
