453 - How to Plan a Garden That Fits Your Life in 2026

Feeling excited about garden planning but worried about burnout before summer even hits?
If last season felt overwhelming, disappointing, or heavier than you expected, this episode will help you reset.
You'll learn how to plan a garden that fits your time, energy, space, and season of life so gardening feels peaceful, productive, and enjoyable in 2026.

Free Training: Before You Sow

Learn the four seed-growing principles every gardener needs to know before planting anything.
This mini course walks you through when to start seeds indoors, when to buy transplants, and when to direct sow.
Free through January 19.
👉 https://journeywithjill.net/before-you-sow

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Key Takeaways

• Why garden burnout often comes from planning, not pests or weather

• How to match your garden to your real time and energy

• Why smaller gardens are often more productive and enjoyable

• How your season of life should shape what you grow

• Questions that clarify what truly matters in your garden this year

Chapters

00:00 – Why garden plans fail
02:10 – Planning before seed catalogs
04:30 – When gardens become overwhelming
07:45 – Learning from scaling back
10:55 – Is it worth growing this crop
13:40 – Time realities in gardening
15:55 – Physical vs emotional energy
19:30 – Harvest decisions and burnout
22:10 – You need less space than you think
25:15 – Making small spaces productive
27:30 – How life seasons affect gardens
31:05 – Choosing a clear garden focus
34:15 – What a right-sized garden feels like
37:20 – Three crops clarity question
39:10 – Grounding your 2026 garden plan
41:30 – Seed starting basics beginners miss
44:10 – Free Before You Sow training

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Resource Links

Free Training: Before You Sow
https://journeywithjill.net/before-you-sow

Friday Emails (Newsletter)
https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

Recommended Brands & Products
https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

Amazon Storefront
https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

GreenStalk Vertical Planters
Grow more food in less space with vertical planters that make gardening easier to manage.
Use code JILL10 for $10 off a $75 purchase.
👉 https://journeywithjill.net/greenstalk

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Disclaimer
Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.