I Didn’t Know What I Was Doing, But I Fell in Love
- Alison Jusuf
When Alison moved to her half-acre property in Reno in 2010, the land was mostly empty, with only a few existing garden boxes.
She didn’t have a perfect plan or years of experience behind her. She simply started.
That simple beginning became a lifelong love of gardening that has continued for more than a decade.
“I didn’t know what I was doing, but I just started filling the boxes with flowers and vegetables and fell in love.”
“Seven years ago, our kids were thrilled about the play structure in front of the coop. But over the past year or so, I noticed it wasn’t being used. (So sad!)”
As her children grew, Alison saw an opportunity to give that space a new chapter. She gave away the play structure and expanded her garden.
Living in the high desert means gardening comes with its own challenges, especially with a short growing season. For Alison, raised beds have been real life savers.
Together with Annoell, Alison explored a layout that could bring her planting wish list to life while making the most of the area in front of the chicken coop.
And at the center of this new garden space sits a birdbath handmade by Alison’s father.
“My setup works well with fruit trees in our chicken run. They fertilize the trees and eat the fruit that falls. They’re also provided with shade and protection from predators.”
Before
After
Today, Alison’s garden is filled with vegetables like zucchini, squash, cucumbers, artichokes, corn, tomatoes, and green beans, along with flowers such as zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, agastache, and nasturtiums.
“I’m seeing some mistakes I can correct before next year. We also have a short growing season here, so it’s hard to get the timing just right for a successful year. That being said, I’m having so much fun creating a beautiful and productive space! I’m also teaching my children skills like cultivating healthy soil, companion planting, and finding joy in nature.”
Isn’t that what gardening is really about?
For Alison, the garden is never really finished.
Shop the look
Stories From Our Friends and Their Gardens
Growing Memories From Garden to Table
- Lindsay Greeson
📍Ringgold, GA
🌱Zone 7b
The First Year of a Garden: Where Growth Begins
- Mira Sage
📍La Center, WA
🌱Zone 8b
A Garden Growing With Family, Culture, and Curiosity
-Alex G. Alicea
📍Fort Worth, TX
🌱Zone 8a
I Didn’t Know What I Was Doing, But I Fell in Love
-Alison Jusuf
📍Reno, NV
🌱Zone 7a
"I love gardening because it gives me a space to experiment, to shape, and to slowly make it more beautiful.
It's a place for my family, where we talk, play, or just sit together with a cup of coffee.
And when I share it, it's never about showing off how perfect it is.
It's simply about sharing the joy that grows from it."
- Alice, Storytelling & Communication, Annoell
