Gardening in Kentucky Zone 7: What Actually Works in Real Life

From soil-first gardening to everyday cooking, Bloom & Peck brings together small Kentucky gardens, community, and nourishing meals.

Welcome to Bloom & Peck! I’m Erin, and I garden on a small homestead in rural Kentucky (Adair County, Zone 7). This isn’t a blog about perfect raised beds and unlimited budgets. It’s about what actually works when you’re dealing with Kentucky clay soil, learning as you go, adapting when life happens, and making do with what you have.

If you’re looking for Instagram-perfect gardens, this isn’t the place. But if you want real advice from someone figuring it out in the same challenging conditions as you? Welcome home.

I garden in raised beds, salt lick tubs, Kentucky Soil, and get many of my seeds from Epic Gardening, and every thrifted container I can find. You’ll find me experimenting with companion planting, polyculture setups, seed swaps, and slowly building up my dream chicken coop. I’m learning to preserve the harvest, compost like a pro (or close enough), and bake up something decent with my sourdough discard—most of the time.

“I started Bloom & Peck while recovering from multiple surgeries, searching for ways to take control of our food and health.

Now with my husband fighting an illness, our Kentucky garden has become more than a hobby—it’s our way of reclaiming hope and building resilience, one seed at a time.

If you’re gardening for health, healing, or just because you’re tired of feeling powerless—you belong here.” —Erin

Read our full story → Here🌻

What You’ll Find on Bloom & Peck

Here’s what you’ll find on Bloom & Peck:

Kentucky Zone 7 Gardening (The Real Version)

What grows in clay soil, dealing with unpredictable spring frosts, companion planting that actually works, raised bed setups on a budget, and seasonal planting schedules for our weird Kentucky weather.

Backyard Chickens (No Fancy Coop Required)

Best breeds for Kentucky, building coops with what you can afford, keeping your flock healthy through heat and cold, and where to actually buy chicks locally.

Sourdough & Preserving Your Harvest

What to do with sourdough discard (beyond pancakes), preserving on a budget, fermentation basics, and simple recipes using what you grow—even if it’s just tomatoes and herbs.

The Real Homesteading Stories

The wins, the failures, the “why did I think this would work?” moments, and how we keep going when life throws curveballs. Because homesteading isn’t always pretty, but it’s always worth it.

“Whether you’re new to Kentucky and wondering when to plant, dealing with our clay soil and unpredictable weather, or just want to grow better tomatoes in this climate, this blog is for you. Real advice from a real Kentucky gardener.” —Erin

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