Currently, I am not an affiliate with any company, but I want to share where I purchased items and how they performed.,, 5/4/2024

Hey there, fellow gardeners and homesteaders! I’m Erin, and I’m so excited to welcome you to Bloom & Peck—a little corner of the internet where I’ll be sharing my gardening and chicken-raising journey as I heal.

Before we dig into the dirt, I need to be real with you: I’m writing this post from my bed, recovering from back surgery. But even though I’m stuck here, my spirit is out in the garden, and I’m committed to offering you HOPE to get outside, embrace nature’s highs and lows, and find joy in the dirt—because every bloom comes with a peck, and that’s the fun of it!

Why Bloom & Peck?
Another real moment to share, I have had 3 major surgeries in less than a Year. This has slowed my Kentucky Homestead dream dramatically.
After this last surgery, I felt stuck—physically and mentally.

Gardening, for me, is a stress relieving place: with my roots deep in the rich soil along side my grandma pullin weeds. Raising chickens brings me so much joy and I just love the fluffy butts. But with my mobility limited, I can’t get out there like I used to-Erin

That’s when I decided to start this blog. I want to take you along on my journey, sharing the good (the blooms) and the bad (the pecks), so you can see that homesteading or even a small planter growing some blooms is worth it even when life throws challenges your way. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, I hope my story inspires you to get outside and connect with nature.

A Bloom: My Best Gardening Moment
One of my favorite gardening memories is from last summer when my tomato plants were bursting with fruit. I’d planted three varieties—Roma San Maranzo (from burpee), Sweet 100 Cherry tomatoes starts from our local Adair County Kentucky Lavern’s market and Cherokee Purple (from territorial seeds)— and after months of care, I harvested enough to make jars of homemade pasta sauce.
You know the joy of slicing into that Cheerokee Purple sun-warmed tomato, knowing I grew it myself, is what I call a “bloom.” It’s the kind of moment that makes all the hard work worth it.

Roma Tomato Growing Up Strings to Top of Cattle Panel – Bloom and Peck.com

A Peck: The Challenges of Gardening
But let’s talk about the “peck”—the not-so-glamorous side of gardening.

I planted my raised beds right before this last surgery with Gem Lettuce, Spinach, and Radish seeds: if you’re like me ya buy seeds everywhere lol. WELL I let the girls (my hens) out of the coop and I didn’t put the row cover cloth over my planter- THEY DUG UP THE entire 4×8 BED!
Now that’s a peck in the behind! I learned to always check my row cover cloth that I purchased on Amazon and make sure those ladies don’t get into the bed unless I want them too.
Right now, my biggest peck is my surgery—I can’t get out to plant like I want to, so I’m potting up my heirloom tomatoes that should be in the ground, and waiting to heal so I can dig in the dirt again.

What You’ll Find at Bloom & Peck
Here’s what you can expect from this blog: real, down-to-earth stories about my gardening and chicken-raising adventures, plus practical tips you can use in your own homestead or gardening adventure. It won’t be instagram worthy, but, I’ll be sharing updates on my current projects—like what’s happening with my Holland Bulb raspberry and those potted up tomato starts, my leggy Potato plantings—and eventually introducing you to my chickens.

Since I’m passionate about supporting local and sustainable businesses and products, I’ll also be recommending USA-made gardening tools and supplies that I use and love. (Quick note: future links in posts maybe be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.) My Goal here is a Green House for zone 7 in Adair County Kentucky.

Let’s Get Started!
I’m kicking things off with some simple gardening updates: the good and the ugly of gardening after surgery, and I can’t wait to share more with you.

In my next post, I’ll tell you about two companion planting books and looking at basil, along with a surprise visitor!

For now, I’d love to hear from you: what’s your biggest gardening challenge, or what inspires you to get outside? Drop a comment below—I’d love to connect!