Welcome to Garden Betty… New to the site? Start here!

Hey, new friend. I’m Linda Ly, the creator of Garden Betty. That’s my big ol’ mug you see up top. (And no, I don’t usually do my hair to go out in the garden. Nor do my clothes stay that clean.)

This site is for you if:

  • You don’t mind getting a little dirt under your nails.
  • You think it’s a shame to let good food go to waste.
  • You’re obsessed with the free (and cute, and hilarious) entertainment that are backyard chickens. Or…
  • Nature is your happy place and you love to explore and find out what’s around the next bend.

So, welcome. I think we have lots in common. 🤗

Here’s what you’ll find here.

Garden Betty is full of incredible ideas, tools, and resources—from someone who has actually tried them all—to help you reach the next level in your gardening, cooking, or adventuring.

You’re not going to find generic photos or the same ol’ encyclopedic info that’s been regurgitated from other sources. (It’s shocking how many garden writers online are just that—writers, or worse, AI programs—and really don’t do much gardening at all.)

You’re going to find real tips based on real experiences, and that includes lessons learned from my own mistakes—so you don’t have to make them yourself.

Let your curiosity guide you around this site and not only will you start dreaming about all the amazing things you’ll grow and eat, you’ll start taking action and seeing the magic happen.

Think of me as your friend and guide to a life well-lived outdoors.

So who am I to help you with all this?

I’m a plant lover, passionate road-tripper, and cookbook author whose highly approachable, firsthand advice and bestselling books have been featured in TIME, Outside, and Food & Wine.

I’ve been called a Creative Genius by DIY Network, the go-to gardening expert by HGTV, and the Best Gardening Blog by Country Living.

But you can just call me Linda.

My joy is in learning and sharing what I know with people just like us. People who love to be a part of everything in nature, who value old-timey skills like tending to their vegetable gardens and stocking their pantries with home-canned goods.

These are essential life skills that everyone should learn, and there’s a certain thrill to being just a little more self-sufficient and discovering this wild world we live in.

As I like to say… There are no black thumbs, only green thumbs in training.

If you stumbled on my blog through a random link, here’s a quick lay of the land to help you find what you’re looking for.

You can keep exploring by clicking on the “hamburger” menu in the top left corner of your screen. The search bar in the top right corner is also a good way to dig a little deeper into my content archive.

Not finding what you need? I’m always open to suggestions on new topics I can research and share.

Some of my most valuable nuggets are sent directly to my 18,197 (and counting!) newsletter subscribers. Want to join them? Just sign up below for insightful weekly emails aimed at helping you grow more food in your garden and experience the beauty of the outdoors.

Meanwhile, these are my most popular posts that I think you’ll enjoy as a jumping off point.

Garden of Eatin’

Recipes

Backyard Chickens

House & Home

Outdoor Adventures

Parenthood

My Work

Other Points of Interest

And if you have any questions or stories to share, I’m just an email away.

Thank you for being here.

I know there are thousands of other sites you could be visiting, and I’m so glad you picked this one.

Linda