Bailey Van Tassel

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29 Aug 2018
Gardening

Why Urban Farming?

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you may be asking yourself, “Why the urban farming thing? Why all the gardening?” It’s become a huge passion (err, obsession), and my husband thinks I’m spamming everyone. For better or for worse, it’s here to stay. 

So, what’s the deal with the urban farming thing? I’m so glad you asked!

I grew up on a hobby farm, or a ranch, whatever you want to call it. We had a few acres, horses, mules, chickens, a pet lamb once (I’ll tell you the story sometime over drinks), dogs, cats, pigs, etc. and of course a rose garden and a potato patch. I don’t actually remember the potato patch, but my Aunty Pammy says it was there, so it was there. 

I actually resented the whole situation as I was growing up because I just didn’t understand it. I felt like I had so many chores, and that life was so boring. I was an only child living in a semi-remote area, and while all the cool kids were going to the mall in their white platform sneakers, I was trying to scrape horse manure off my Payless shoes and shake hay out of my hair. Not cool. Or so I thought at the time (cue God laughing). 

As the fates would have it, I got my fix of city living by way of five years in San Diego and Los Angeles, and it did just what my parents promised it would: got old. Fast. However, I ended up in Orange County, CA, and now have accumulated over ten years in the Southland. 

I always promised myself that I wouldn’t raise my kids here. I just wouldn’t. Too many pressures and way too many Range Rovers. 

Cue God laughing yet again, as I have a one year old son now and we are still in The OC. 

After years of complaining about wanting a garden and a big yard and space and land and acres and a new life, I decided it was high time to start doing and stop planning. So I bought a teeny tiny one pot garden with six plants in it.

The truth is that I have this deep rooted belief that character is built outside, with your two hands. It requires imagination, resourcefulness, honesty, and nature. Convenience and comfort need not apply. I fear deeply that my kids, if raised in a society that rewards external riches, will not reach the potential they could if life was more simple, more real, or more deep. 

So, I took matters into my own hands, and started with what I had – minimal space, but a big heart for home cooking and home growing. That morphed into something much bigger, and now I am a bonafide FARMER! Okay, maybe not quite. More like an urban homesteader in the making. 

I’ll tell you what – it’s sticking. My son already drags a watering can out to help, and ADORES playing in the garden beds. He craves the outdoors, and sits by the door to go outside at least a dozen times a day. I couldn’t be happier about it. Let him eat all the dirt.

I have a story to tell, per the usual, and will share more. Like all good tales, there are some twists and turns, but the takeaway is this: start where you are, with what you have, and the rest will fall into place. 

TAGS:homegrownhomesteadurban farmurban farming
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Hi I’m Bailey

Hi I’m Bailey

Teaching you how to grow veggies in any space while show you how to live a garden-inspired life.

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This podcast interview with @boochcraft CEO, Todd Kent, was epic! They’re truly setting the standard for sustainability and organic beverages, in the face of a lot of greenwashing. 

You MUST listen to this. 

Linked in bio and wherever you listen to podcasts🎙️. 

Big thanks to my friends over at @eartheasy for partnering on this episode. They’re another incredible company doing great things for humanity and the planet.
•
Follow

This podcast interview with @boochcraft CEO, Todd Kent, was epic! They’re truly setting the standard for sustainability and organic beverages, in the face of a lot of greenwashing.

You MUST listen to this.

Linked in bio and wherever you listen to podcasts🎙️.

Big thanks to my friends over at @eartheasy for partnering on this episode. They’re another incredible company doing great things for humanity and the planet.

1 day ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
What’s holding you back? We have more doubt in ourselves than in any teachers. But people actually *do* change - we can create micro habits that turn into major moves. Or even take giant leaps of faith that reconfigure our lives. 

I’ve done it. I’ve made the big moves and taken the chances and acted on instinct. 

Because my hope was greater than my fear. What I wanted for my future outweighed the discomfort in being in the middle. In the cocoon. 

So, what does your butterfly moment look like, and what’s keep you from allowing the transformation? 

Snag a seat in my live training, Do It Down To Earth. It’s a masterclass in building an authentic brand that will monetize on Instagram and beyond. 

Link in bio. DM me with questions. Take the leap. I’ve got you!
•
Follow

What’s holding you back? We have more doubt in ourselves than in any teachers. But people actually *do* change – we can create micro habits that turn into major moves. Or even take giant leaps of faith that reconfigure our lives.

I’ve done it. I’ve made the big moves and taken the chances and acted on instinct.

Because my hope was greater than my fear. What I wanted for my future outweighed the discomfort in being in the middle. In the cocoon.

So, what does your butterfly moment look like, and what’s keep you from allowing the transformation?

Snag a seat in my live training, Do It Down To Earth. It’s a masterclass in building an authentic brand that will monetize on Instagram and beyond.

Link in bio. DM me with questions. Take the leap. I’ve got you!

1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
👋🏼HERE is what I did:
I picked a niche that I was passionate about and could talk about everyday. It was something I had an abundance of information and experience on. 

I showed up authentically, and purposefully to inspire and educate. To relate to others. To be social. I had a plan based on years in the marketing and brand-building hotel business. 

At 3,500 followers my first brand deal came in. They specifically wanted to work with a mother and organic gardener. Jackpot! After that, I made a media kit and then starting pitching brands. They kept saying yes. 

I invested in a retreat to learn how to take my brand to the next level, and then was invited to be a coach at the next retreat. And then another and another, all teaching women to build an online brand. 

It 8x’d my income the first year. And then life happened: a global pandemic, a move, a late term pregnancy loss, sick kids, etc. BUT GUESS WHAT? 

It didn’t really matter. I could dial my business up or down. 

So I started incorporating other business components:
🌸A membership/subscription 
🌸Merch collaborations 
🌸Modeling for brands 
🌸My own digital Products 
🌸Workshops 
🌸online seminars/masterclasses. 

What I did was build a BRAND. Not just an income stream. 

A brand is flexible and resilient and can be multifaceted. A brand tells a story. A brand is built to last. 

This year, thanks to my brand, my biggest dream since childhood is coming true. 🤫 I haven’t shared it yet, so you’ll have to be patient to find out! 

This all happened off a brand I built authentically for four years. 

So, if this is your dream too, I got you. 

I wanted to quit my 9-5, and did. 
I wanted to be home with my kids, and did. 
I wanted to contribute to our income (ahem, Orange County, CA is the most expensive, and I did. 
I wanted to stay ME, and I have. 

So once a year I pull back the curtain and share EVERYTHING so that you can do this too. 
I have a starter download for you right now to get going and then my starts in October!!! 

Comment PATH and I’ll send you a 6 Tips for Starting TODAY! 

Send this post any of your friends starting a business or ready to monetize their efforts here on IG.
•
Follow

👋🏼HERE is what I did:
I picked a niche that I was passionate about and could talk about everyday. It was something I had an abundance of information and experience on.

I showed up authentically, and purposefully to inspire and educate. To relate to others. To be social. I had a plan based on years in the marketing and brand-building hotel business.

At 3,500 followers my first brand deal came in. They specifically wanted to work with a mother and organic gardener. Jackpot! After that, I made a media kit and then starting pitching brands. They kept saying yes.

I invested in a retreat to learn how to take my brand to the next level, and then was invited to be a coach at the next retreat. And then another and another, all teaching women to build an online brand.

It 8x’d my income the first year. And then life happened: a global pandemic, a move, a late term pregnancy loss, sick kids, etc. BUT GUESS WHAT?

It didn’t really matter. I could dial my business up or down.

So I started incorporating other business components:
🌸A membership/subscription
🌸Merch collaborations
🌸Modeling for brands
🌸My own digital Products
🌸Workshops
🌸online seminars/masterclasses.

What I did was build a BRAND. Not just an income stream.

A brand is flexible and resilient and can be multifaceted. A brand tells a story. A brand is built to last.

This year, thanks to my brand, my biggest dream since childhood is coming true. 🤫 I haven’t shared it yet, so you’ll have to be patient to find out!

This all happened off a brand I built authentically for four years.

So, if this is your dream too, I got you.

I wanted to quit my 9-5, and did.
I wanted to be home with my kids, and did.
I wanted to contribute to our income (ahem, Orange County, CA is the most expensive, and I did.
I wanted to stay ME, and I have.

So once a year I pull back the curtain and share EVERYTHING so that you can do this too.
I have a starter download for you right now to get going and then my class starts in October!!!

Comment PATH and I’ll send you a 6 Tips for Starting TODAY!

Send this post any of your friends starting a business or ready to monetize their efforts here on IG.

2 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
When mom goes down, she has to actually stay up. So here’s something that is so good for clearing and breaking up funk in your chest. 

A tulsi and thyme steam. 

Just heat water and herbs in a pot to a good simmer (boiling could get too hot), then release the steam while you place your fave over it, and under a towel (to keep it in). Breath it in as long as feels good. Usually a couple of minutes while the steam lasts for me. 

Watch it smooth your body and calm your soul. 

Tulsi: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and has antioxidants. Also smells heavenly. 

Thyme: has natural expectorant properties that are also soothing. 

Also: be smart & don’t burn yourself or your children with hot steam. 

#herbalism #growyourown #crunchymama #naturalwellness
•
Follow

When mom goes down, she has to actually stay up. So here’s something that is so good for clearing and breaking up funk in your chest.

A tulsi and thyme steam.

Just heat water and herbs in a pot to a good simmer (boiling could get too hot), then release the steam while you place your fave over it, and under a towel (to keep it in). Breath it in as long as feels good. Usually a couple of minutes while the steam lasts for me.

Watch it smooth your body and calm your soul.

Tulsi: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and has antioxidants. Also smells heavenly.

Thyme: has natural expectorant properties that are also soothing.

Also: be smart & don’t burn yourself or your children with hot steam.

#herbalism #growyourown #crunchymama #naturalwellness

4 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/4

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