Market Gardener Meet-up

Written By Sarah Newman

Chelsey Peal & Grandma Honey’s Harvest

Seedleaf’s work breaks barriers: Barriers to food. Barriers to knowledge. Barriers to land and growing spaces. This was true for Chelsey who wanted access to a garden, but lives in an apartment complex. “I had never heard about Seedleaf until I [searched online] for community gardens.”

Because of Seedleaf, Chelsey could garden and an unexpected door to opportunity opened,“When I saw that there was a program to learn more [about how to market] from highly experienced people throughout Lexington, I was blown away! It felt like once in a lifetime chance, honestly!

Chelsey had some growing experience and was inspired to start market gardening by her friend in Montana who began a flower farm to ensure their son with Down Syndrome could have meaningful employment. “When she told me what she was doing, my heart lit up and I just knew one day I’d do the same thing!”

Seedleaf’s Market Gardener Program set Chelsey on a path to start Grandma Honey’s Harvest, which she describes as “a small flower farm guided by the rhythm of the seasons and a deep respect for the land.” Our programming, which includes workshops, hands-on curriculum, and farm tours, gave Chelsey the confidence and skills she needed. When asked if she would recommend it to others, her reply? “100,000% yes. I truly feel so lucky I could have this opportunity!”

Black and white image of smiling woman wearing glasses and hat in a garden. A logo with a picture of a basket filled with flowers with a honey spoon on the side and the farm's name, "Grandma Honey's Harvest" is overlayed on her image.

As Chelsey enters her first year of growing for market, she says she is most excited about, “the growth in myself; the ability to slow down and connect with the soil and its roots,” which is the magic so many of us gardeners know.

Whether through the Market Gardener Program or getting in one of Seedleaf’s 10 community gardens, you can also break barriers and access this same type of growth. We hope to see you soon.

To follow Chelsey’s growing journey and support their work, find them on Instagram,@grandmahoneysharvest,and with Seedleaf at the Lexington Farmer’s Market on Southland Drive, Sundays 10am-2pm.

Learn more about the Market Gardener Program.
Applications start in August!

Sarah Newman