Today, I am highlighting Mia Cover. She was the first gardener I reached out to via Instagram for the Meet Other Growers series because I was so intrigued by all she does. Mia grows her family’s food, raises chickens, bees, dogs, a cat and three children. Once I learned all this, I just had to find out her tips and tricks. Read more to find out how she does it and her best advice for juggling it all.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a Stay-at-home Mom to three, living just outside of downtown Nashville, TN. I’m passionate about growing food for my family, and all aspects of urban homesteading.
How long have you been gardening?
I’ve been gardening almost all my life. I grew up with a huge garden in our backyard, which I was required to help with.
Click on the instagram post below to see a tour of Mia’s garden.
What are you most proud of about your garden?
I love my perennial herb beds. Herbs are so useful for so many things, and can be a beautiful backdrop for the rest of the garden.
A photo posted by Mia Cover (@miaslittlefarm) on
What are your favorite learning resources ?
My go-to book is Crockett’s Victory Garden – it’s out of print but fairly easy to find. I also never miss Mike McGrath’s week radio show (available as a podcast) You Bet Your Garden. He also has a very informative website, GardensAlive.com.
A photo posted by Mia Cover (@miaslittlefarm) on
What are your top three tips for juggling being a wife, mom of 3 kids, dogs, cat, chickens and bees?
- Make lists! I have lists of everything from kids chores to errands to gardening tasks.
- Wake up before the rest of the household to assess the day. I like to be up before anyone else so I can have a quiet moment with a cup of coffee to plan the day.
- Don’t be afraid to say “no”. I used to overcommit, but have gotten used to saying “I’m sorry, but I can’t”. It has saved my sanity.
When you have an issue in your garden and you aren’t sure of the cause, what do you do to troubleshoot?
Ask friends! I am lucky to live in a neighborhood with LOTS of gardeners. We have a private Facebook page where we compare notes, brag about successes, and help each other troubleshoot issues.
What are you most excited to grow this season?
For the first time, I’m growing Mexican Sour Gherkins. They look like miniature watermelons but taste like lemony cucumbers (although they are not related). They are supposed to make great pickles.
A photo posted by Mia Cover (@miaslittlefarm) on
What do you know now that you wish you would have known when you started bee-keeping?
I wish I’d known just how rewarding it is, and that I would have started keeping bees much sooner. There is still so much to learn, and I am constantly discovering new things. But it is such a great experience, and my garden loves the bees.
A photo posted by Mia Cover (@miaslittlefarm) on
Thank you so much for your inspiration and advice, and for taking the time to share with us, Mia!
You can find Mia on Facebook and Instagram.
A photo posted by Mia Cover (@miaslittlefarm) on