Welcome to 'Why I Rise', an endeavor where we celebrate the diverse stories that shape our Rise Gardens community. From the heartfelt experiences of our customers to the personal stories of our dedicated team members, 'Why I Rise' offers a glimpse into the lives that have been transformed by the power of indoor hydroponic gardening. Our first profile features Nancy, a familiar face of the Rise Garden's team. Learn more about her story about growing up a generational gardener below.
Hey there, I'm Nancy, and I'm excited to share my story with our Rise community – a tale that stretches from my earliest memories to my role here at Rise Gardens. Let's dive in and explore how my roots have shaped my passion for gardening.
Roots of a Green Thumb
From a young age, I found myself drawn to gardening, thanks to my father's deep love for it. Nestled in Wheaton, a Chicago suburb, we transformed our yard into a lush garden haven. Reflecting on those days, I recall my dad dedicating almost half of our yard to gardening. Those moments of togetherness while tending to the garden laid the foundation of my journey. I got my own little section to plant corn, tomatoes, and pumpkins – not exactly proper gardening, but it was all about having fun and learning.
Composting Pioneers
Looking back, my family was ahead of the curve with composting, even before it became trendy. Those composting adventures were remarkable, and I can still hear my friends asking, "Nancy, which garbage can does this go in?" An amusing memory for sure! We even ventured to the Wheaton Sewage plant, an unconventional choice, to gather what my dad saw as a fantastic fertilizer. The neighbors might not have appreciated it, but my dad was over the moon about it 'helping' our garden. According to the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, composting organic matter returns vital nutrients to the soil and can improve plant yields significantly — a principle my dad was living long before it was mainstream.
Cultivating a City Garden
How Did Rise Gardens Change the Way Nancy Grows Year-Round?
Frequently Asked Questions
How does growing food at home build community?
Rise Gardens customers frequently share that their garden becomes a conversation starter that draws family, friends, and neighbors into discussions about food, health, and sustainability. Stories like Nancy's illustrate how a simple indoor garden can become a catalyst for meaningful connections through sharing harvests, exchanging recipes, and inspiring others to start growing. The Rise Gardens community is built on exactly this kind of person-to-person spread of the growing spirit.
What does it mean to have roots in food culture?
For many growers, food is inseparable from family history, cultural identity, and the places they call home. Growing the same herbs and vegetables that defined childhood meals is an act of preserving and honoring those roots, whether that means sofrito-base herbs, Asian greens, or Mediterranean staples. Rise Gardens supports this by offering a broad range of culturally significant crops that help growers stay connected to their heritage no matter where they live.
How has Rise Gardens inspired personal transformation in its community?
Many Rise Gardens members describe their garden as a catalyst for broader changes in how they eat, cook, and think about wellness. Starting with something as simple as fresh basil or homegrown lettuce often leads to more adventurous cooking, reduced grocery spending on specialty produce, and a growing sense of self-sufficiency. These personal transformations are at the heart of what Rise Gardens is really about.
Can a Rise Garden help families eat more vegetables?
Research and anecdotal evidence both consistently show that when people grow their own vegetables, they are more likely to eat them. Having fresh greens and herbs visually present and immediately accessible in the kitchen makes it dramatically easier to add plants to every meal. Rise Gardens families report that their gardens have become a natural gateway to more vegetable-forward, nutritious eating habits for everyone in the household.
