A scientist’s backyard growing journey blossoms into a mission to advocate for greater food security through home & community gardens | Ashlie Thomas of The Mocha Gardener

This episode is brought to you by Taproot Magazine. Now is the perfect time to rediscover the joys of snail mail! Published in Portland, Maine, Taproot is a beautiful print publication that celebrates food, farm, family, and craft through six ad-free issues a year. I've been a subscriber for years now and am always so excited to find my next issue in my mailbox! I love how there's a little bit of everything in this magazine. Each issue features seasonal recipes, tutorials, craft projects, and stories inspiring readers to live more intentionally and connect with their communities and the natural world. Want to see what Taproot is all about? Use code PODCAST for free US shipping on a past issue at at taprootmag.com. 

I’m excited to invite you to my conversation with Ashlie Thomas. Ashlie is a scientist, writer, health coach and food security advocate. She is the woman behind the Mocha Gardener on Instagram, where she shares her tips, advice and growing journey. 

Ashlie was inspired to start gardening after spending time in rural South Carolina with her grandparents. She realized how few healthy, fresh food options were available locally and decided to roll up her sleeves and learn to grow. Ashlie and her husband Tyler settled in the suburbs of North Carolina and built a garden oasis on their 1-acre lot, where they grow food year around. 

Ashlie's growing journey has been so profound that she has decided to go back to school to study nutrition. She wants to encourage more people to tear up their lawns and get growing - not just for the food but also for the healing that comes from reconnecting with the soil. Gardening has shifted Ashlie's outlook on the world and how she interprets living a successful, happy life. 

This November, Ashlie authored her first book How to Become a Gardener: find empowerment in creating your own food security. This book walks readers through the practical ins and outs of gardening, providing tangible pathways for people to take charge of their family’s food security by learning how to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. In addition, Ashlie discusses the often overlooked, but equally important, benefits of gardening - beyond the nutritious food it provides. 

This is a story about the life altering experience of becoming a gardener and the gifts, magic, and lessons that growing gives.