About

About The Grocery Gardener

Growing More, Cooking Smarter, Living Better

Welcome to The Grocery Gardener—where we make it easy to grow more, cook smarter, and live better. My name is Tori, and I’m here to help you embrace the beauty and simplicity of growing your own food and making wholesome, homemade meals from scratch. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, my goal is to show you that a life of self-sufficiency, connection to nature, and delicious homegrown food is well within your reach.

My Journey: From Marketing to Micro Farming

In 2017, I left the West Coast and returned home to Ohio with a newfound curiosity for gardening. At the time, I was completing my MBA and building a career in marketing, but I couldn’t shake the desire to grow my own food and reconnect with more traditional ways of cooking. That curiosity led me to launch a small craft food business, where I began selling my specialty spreads at local farmers’ markets. Through that experience, I got a firsthand look at the vibrant world of fresh, local food and began my deep dive into sustainable living.

As I continued to experiment in my own backyard—on just a quarter acre of land—I immersed myself in everything from permaculture to herbal medicine. I became obsessed with learning how to grow and make as much as possible from scratch. Over time, I developed a more streamlined, low-effort approach to gardening and cooking that fit into my busy life. Now, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned and help others simplify their own journeys toward self-sufficiency.

My Philosophy: Simplicity, Connection, Empowerment

At The Grocery Gardener, I believe in three core values:

• Simplicity: Growing and making food should never feel overwhelming. I focus on breaking things down into simple, actionable steps that fit into even the busiest of lives.
• Connection: Reconnecting with nature, our food systems, and the traditional ways of making things from scratch brings joy, mindfulness, and a sense of accomplishment. I want to help you feel more connected to what you grow, eat, and share with others.
• Empowerment: Everyone can grow and cook their own food—it’s just a matter of learning how. My mission is to empower you with the knowledge and confidence to make self-sufficiency a part of your daily life.

Why I Do What I Do

I get it—life can be busy and finding the time to garden, cook, and live more self-sufficiently can feel like a challenge. But I’ve learned firsthand that when you have the right tools, knowledge, and mindset, it’s easier than you think. My approach to gardening and cooking is all about simplifying the process so that it becomes automatic and rewarding, not another item on your to-do list.

There’s something truly magical about stepping outside to harvest your own herbs or veggies, or cooking a meal knowing it was made with ingredients you grew yourself. That’s what I want to help you experience, no matter how small your space or how hectic your schedule.

What You’ll Find Here

On The Grocery Gardener, you’ll discover:

• Small-Space Gardening Tips: Whether you have a tiny backyard or a few pots on a balcony, I’ll show you how to maximize your space to grow more food with less effort.
• Wholesome Homemade Recipes: I focus on making simple, from-scratch recipes that are nutritious and easy to prepare, using what you grow at home as much as possible.
• Sustainable Living Insights: Learn how to incorporate old-world practices like preserving, herbal medicine, and natural gardening into modern-day life.
• DIY Food Guides: From making homemade stocks and sauces to creating garden-to-table meals, I offer step-by-step guidance to make cooking and growing your own food accessible.

What I Offer

In addition to free content on the blog, I also offer several resources designed to help you on your gardening and cooking journey:

• Free E-Books and Guides: Download my free guide to growing your own groceries or explore my other free resources, like how to set up your raised garden beds or 10 perennial herbs every home cook should grow.
• Seasonal Growing and Recipe Guides: For just $30, you can purchase a seasonal growing guide and recipe book tailored to your garden and kitchen for each season. For those looking for more, there’s an $80 bundle that includes all four seasons, plus bonus guides on edible flowers and tree guilds.
• Custom Garden Planning and Coaching: For those who want a more personalized approach, I offer custom planting plans, harvest guides, and seasonal meal plans. I also offer in-person garden coaching and installations in my local community.

How I Can Help You

I’m here to make your journey easier, whether you’re just getting started or looking to take your gardening and cooking to the next level. I understand how overwhelming it can feel to start growing your own food or cooking from scratch, but I’m proof that it can be done with less time, less effort, and a lot of satisfaction.

I invite you to explore The Grocery Gardener and start your own journey toward growing more, cooking smarter, and living better. Let’s work together to reconnect with nature, revive old-world food traditions, and make self-sufficiency an everyday practice.

Let’s Get Started!

Ready to take the first step?

Download my free guide to growing your own groceries and learn how to create a productive garden in even the smallest spaces.

Or, if you’re ready to dive deeper, check out my seasonal growing guides and recipe books to get started with a year-round plan.