Welcome — I’m so glad you’ve found your way to The Art of Growing.
A warm, practical space for seasonal home cooking, homegrown food, and simple skills that make life feel calmer and more doable.
If you’re looking for comforting recipes, beginner-friendly gardening, or ways to make your home feel a little lighter, you’re in the right place.
This page will help you find your way around and choose the path that fits where you’re at.
A Little About Me
I’m Monique — a home cook, gardener, and lover of all things seasonal.
I believe in simple skills, cozy kitchens, and growing what you can. I started The Art of Growing because I wanted a place that felt grounding and doable — a space where you can learn, try new things, and build confidence in the kitchen and garden without the pressure of perfection.
If you want to cook from scratch, grow a little food, and create a calmer, more capable home, you’ll feel right at home here.
Choose Your Path
Seasonal Recipes
Comforting, from-scratch meals that fit your life — simple, nourishing, and full of flavour. You’ll find soups, lunchbox staples, pantry basics, and the kind of food that feels like home.
Grow Food
Beginner-friendly gardening for any space. Learn what to plant, when to plant it (including Perth seasons), and how to grow food without the overwhelm.
Old Skills
Practical, grounding skills that make home feel easier — from sourdough to preserving, from-scratch cooking to simple routines.
→ Find more Homeskills here
🌼 Start With My Reader Favourites
These are the posts people return to again and again:
- Thai Beef (Meatball) Noodle Soup — comforting, quick, winter-perfect
- Easy Zucchini Slice — lunchbox staple, freezer-friendly
- Garlic Mistakes Beginners Make — your most-loved garden guide
- Homemade Body Cream — simple, natural, and surprisingly easy
Grow One Thing Guide
If you’re new here, this is the best place to start.
Grow One Thing is a simple, practical guide that helps you choose one plant, grow it well, and build confidence without overwhelm. It’s designed to make gardening feel doable — even if you’re short on time, space, or experience.
It’s gentle, seasonal, and completely beginner-friendly.
This guide walks you through:
- choosing one beginner‑friendly plant
- setting it up simply (no overthinking, no fancy gear)
- keeping it alive for 30 days
- using your harvest in one real meal
It’s practical, gentle, and designed for real life — especially if you’re busy, tired, or starting from scratch.
You can download it for free and begin today 👇🏼
Why Start Small?
Starting small gives you space to learn, experiment, and enjoy the process. One plant, one recipe, one skill at a time — that’s how confidence grows.
This approach keeps things simple, sustainable, and enjoyable.
Join the Community
If you enjoy seasonal cooking, homegrown food, and simple skills that make life feel easier, you’ll love my emails.
They’re warm, practical, and full of tips that help you feel more confident at home.
→ Join the community below
I’m so glad you’re here.
Let’s grow, cook, and create a simpler home — one small step at a time.
