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A Mother's Journey from Chaos to Calm

Hi, I’m Cassie a full-time mom, caregiver, student, and gardener. I want to share something that changed my life and transformed one of my children’s in ways I never expected: gardening.

One of my sons has autism, ADHD, and a sensory processing disorder. Like many moms, I was desperate to help him feel more regulated, confident, and emotionally connected. I needed something real, something that didn’t require expensive programs or strict therapy plans. So one day, I brought him into the garden with me. I thought it would be a way to keep him busy.

What happened next was nothing short of amazing.

From Outbursts to Peaceful Moments

We started slowly, 15 to 30 minutes in the dirt together. I began noticing that his outbursts were less frequent. His eating improved, his sleep stabilized, and his overall mood lifted.

It wasn’t just about the vegetables or flowers. It was about connection to nature, to each other, and to himself. That little patch of earth gave him purpose, joy, and peace.

Gardening Grounded Me Too

I’ve always enjoyed gardening, but in 2018, it became my therapy too. Life was overwhelming, working full-time, caring for my mom with cancer, managing my own health (POTS, AFib, MS), and going back to school. My stress levels were off the charts.

Gardening kept me grounded. Over time, my own symptoms improved. I no longer needed medications. My heart rate normalized. And through the healing of my backyard, I began to heal too.

Then the Kids Got Involved…

I started inviting my younger kids into the garden with me. What started as a fun distraction became something deeper. It changed our routines, improved my son’s behavior and health, and gave us something we could all share. So I did what any overwhelmed mom with a hint of curiosity does: I hit the research.

What the Research Says

Turns out, science backs up what I was seeing:

• Finnigan (2024) found that sensory-responsive outdoor environments significantly reduced stress and improved comfort for children with neurodivergence.

• Karthikeyan (2023) showed that horticultural therapy helped children with autism become more socially engaged and emotionally balanced.

• Scartazza et al. (2020) emphasized how biodiversity in healing gardens supports emotional growth and communication.

• Pergantis et al. (2025) even explored how nature-based interventions can be just as effective as sensory tech in calming children.
  
  

 Mental & Emotional Benefits of Gardening for Kids

• Reduces anxiety and meltdowns

• Improves focus and attention

• Enhances creativity and problem-solving

• Builds self-esteem and confidence

• Promotes patience, responsibility, and mindfulness
  
  

💪 Physical Benefits for Kids

• Encourages movement and improves coordination

• Strengthens motor skills

• Boosts immune system and Vitamin D levels

• Improves eating habits and sleep quality
  
  

🌼 Getting Started Is Easy

• Use raised beds or containers

• Choose sensory-friendly plants like lavender, mint, and lamb’s ear

• Use child-safe tools

• Garden just 15–30 minutes a day

You don’t need a big backyard or expensive setup. You just need soil, time, and heart.

Let’s Grow Together

Gardening isn’t just a hobby; it’s healing, connection, and growth. I’ve seen my son bloom in ways I never imagined. And if this touched your heart or gave you hope, I encourage you to pick up a trowel and try it too.

You just might plant something beautiful in the heart of a child.

By Cassie at The Bearded Coyote Ranch

Fresh herbs are one of the simplest joys you can add to your home; they bring beauty to your garden, flavor to your meals, and healing to your home remedies. Whether you have a sunny windowsill, a backyard plot, or a raised bed like we do here at The Bearded Coyote Ranch, growing herbs is easy and incredibly rewarding.

Here are five versatile herbs you can grow at home that will serve you in the kitchen and your herbal medicine cabinet 

1. Basil – The Flavor of Summer

Basil thrives in warm weather and is a staple in both Italian and Thai cooking. But it’s more than just a pizza topping; basil is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a gentle herbal aid for colds, headaches, and digestive issues.

How to Grow:

• Needs 6–8 hours of sun

• Keep soil moist but not soggy

• Pinch off flowers to encourage leaf growth
  
  

Healing Uses: Fresh basil tea can soothe an upset stomach, while basil essential oil (diluted) can be used in a massage to ease muscle tension.

2. Mint – The Cooling Healer

Mint practically grows itself (and sometimes too much, I recommend planting in containers unless you want it everywhere!). It’s refreshing in summer drinks and desserts, but also works wonders for nausea, headaches, and sore throats.

How to Grow:

• Prefers partial shade to full sun

• Keep soil damp

• Harvest leaves often to keep the plant bushy
  
  

Healing Uses: Mint tea is famous for aiding digestion, and inhaling mint steam can help open sinuses during a cold.

3. Rosemary – The Memory Herb

Rosemary is an evergreen perennial that adds a piney flavor to roasted meats, breads, and vegetables. Historically, it’s been used to improve memory and concentration, even Shakespeare wrote about it in Hamlet!

How to Grow:

• Loves full sun and well-drained soil

• Water sparingly, rosemary hates wet feet

• Can be grown indoors near a sunny window in winter
  
  

Healing Uses: Rosemary tea or steam can boost circulation and relieve congestion. It’s also a natural hair rinse for shine and scalp health.

4. Chamomile – The Gentle Soother

This delicate, daisy-like flower is well-known for its calming tea, which helps with sleep, anxiety, and digestion. It’s also anti-inflammatory and gentle enough for children.

How to Grow:

• Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade

• Needs light, well-drained soil

• Harvest flowers when fully open for best flavor
  
  

Healing Uses: Chamomile tea before bed can promote restful sleep, and a cooled chamomile infusion can be used as a gentle skin rinse for irritation.

5. Thyme – The Tiny Powerhouse

Thyme is a hardy little herb that packs big flavor and medicinal punch. It’s wonderful in soups, stews, roasted vegetables, and marinades. Medicinally, thyme is antibacterial, making it a go-to for coughs and sore throats.

How to Grow:

• Loves full sun and dry, sandy soil

• Drought-tolerant, don’t overwater

• Trim regularly to keep it from getting woody
  
  

Healing Uses: Thyme tea is excellent for easing coughs, and thyme-infused honey can soothe sore throats.

Tips for Success with Herbs

• Start Small: Pick two or three herbs you use often in the kitchen or want for healing remedies.

• Harvest Often: This encourages more growth and keeps plants healthy.

• Dry for Winter: Hang bundles upside down in a cool, dry place, or use a dehydrator so you have herbs year-round.
  
  

At The Bearded Coyote Ranch, we love that our herb garden isn’t just beautiful, it’s a living pantry and apothecary. With just a few pots or a small patch of soil, you can grow herbs that nourish your body, comfort your soul, and connect you with the rhythms of nature.