About

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About Me

Hi, there! I'm Courtney Johnson, the creator behind The Kitchen Garten, and I am so glad that you are here. Though I am an English teacher by trade with a degree from North Carolina State University, I've been gardening for more than 20 years now, and I love sharing my knowledge of vegetable gardening with anyone who is looking to learn more. I come from a long line of farmers and gardeners, so the soil runs deep here! Here's a little bit about my other qualifications:

  • Certified Master Gardener: Since 2019, I've been a certified Master Gardener through my local North Carolina Cooperative Extension. This is a course that anyone can take through their local office, but to maintain the title of Master Gardener, you do have to complete 40 hours of volunteer service and 20 hours of continuing education each year. So, if you're interested in pursuing this type of qualification, be sure to reach out to your local office!
courtney Johnson master gardener
  • Certified Garden Coach: Through the Gardenary program, I became a certified garden coach in 2018 and gained valuable skills to help people plan and grow gardens at home. This was incredibly valuable during my time of installing raised bed gardens for those in our local community. My husband and I installed garden beds in backyards, as well as at local schools and even our own Cooperative Extension office for the Junior Master Gardener Program.
  • Garden Speaker and Presenter: Part of my work each year is also as a speaker and presenter on gardening topics for a variety of organizations. This includes 4H, Centers for the Aging, local schools, and more! I've also been a presenter for Gardening Summits, such as the Hobby Scool Summit. It's such a joy to bring the love of gardening to others.
  • Published Writer: Though I clearly write food and gardening content for my own site, I have also published pieces for area magazines, newspapers (yes, they're still around!), and online publications. Here are a few of my pieces:

I hope that the posts on my site will encourage you in growing a garden at home, including troubleshooting problems, helping with planning, and even learning how to prepare those fresh garden goods at home with delicious recipes.

Always feel free to reach out to me via email at courtney@thekitchengarten.com or on any of my social media platforms. You can also find me on Youtube here.