It's time to dig in.
Are you confident your garden soil has everything your plants need to survive and thrive?
Do you have a regular supply of compost to feed your soil and plants?
Have you created a garden that works with nature to get better each season...even if you can't spend as much time as you'd like in it?
If not, let's get started! In this course, you'll bring your soil to life and see your garden thrive.
If you want to grow in ways that are good for your family and good for the planet, this course was made just for you.
Imagine if...
...your garden thrived the whole season long.
...you no longer felt frustrated by weeds or pest damage.
...you carried handfuls of bright flowers and fresh veggies inside each day.
...you had delightful visits from more wildlife, like songbirds and butterflies.
...you knew your garden was a safe, toxin-free place for your family to play and relax.
Yes, it's possible to create a garden that gets better and better each season!
The key is building fertility naturally by encouraging the life in your soil.
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I love the mid-summer garden—the flavor of a ripe tomato, the hum of bees at work, and the way my son's face lights up when he pulls a carrot from the ground. But a thriving garden doesn't come from planting seeds alone.
A happy garden starts with a foundation of healthy soil.
Here's what you need to know...
- Plants hire tiny living things in soil to be fertilizers, mineral excavators, and guards against disease. They pay in sugar.
- Without this miniature work crew, fallen leaves, manure, and dead animals would be piled up miles high. Instead, they get broken down into perfect plant food.
- It's not just plants and their minions. The best gardens have structures that keep air moving through the soil and sponges that store water for later.
If you want an abundant garden for your family, caring for your soil is critical. You need the plants, their microscopic minions, the structures, and the sponges. They all work together to make a strong foundation.
You wouldn’t build a house without a foundation. Your garden starts from the ground up, too.
When you create and nurture healthy soil, everything else about gardening is easier.
Introducing the Foundations of a Happy Garden Course...
Foundations of a Happy Garden is an online training that helps you bring your soil to life using ecological, organic methods so you can grow more food and beauty.
We'll start with the big picture and some really cool science. Then, I'll give you specific, repeatable action steps that build on each other for a garden that gets better and better every year.
By the end, you'll...
- Know which weekend projects can give you a great head start
- Create a composting system that's easy, doesn't gross you out, and does give you lots of "black gold"
- Learn how to build great soil by letting nature do the work
- Understand the best strategies to use in each season
- And be able to map out a plan for continuous improvement that fits your garden and lifestyle
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What Are Students Saying?
"My garden has improved since the course and I’m keen to keep moving forward. I like Amy's balanced and friendly approach to gardening. I’m noticing the garden ecosystem is finally beginning to balance itself out. I was so excited this year to see a few different avian visitors to my garden, including a fuzzy-caterpillar-eating bird, a shining bronze cuckoo, which is not common where I live"
- Julie from Western Australia
"I have finished the Foundations course recently, and it has really educated and inspired me, and I just can't say thank you all enough for your work! You've helped me find some great joy in my life."
- Chris from Illinois
"I am so impressed. As a fairly experienced gardener, I was pleasantly surprised by all of the new things I learned. Amy really helped me streamline what I wanted to accomplish in my garden and focus my energy in that direction. I highly recommend her!"
- Jessica from New Mexico
Meet Your Guide
Hi! I'm Amy. 
Although, I grew up in my family's garden, I made plenty of mistakes when I set out on my own. Planted okra too early and lettuce too late. Tomatoes with gorgeous leaves...and no fruit. I wanted to grow organically, but didn't know where to start.
Today, my husband Colby and I harvest delicious foods from a "beyond organic" garden in Western North Carolina. Our yard is full of flowers and fascinating wildlife. Our three kids enjoy time outside with us (though they magically disappear when it's time to weed). Still, I love knowing they can browse on kale and strawberries without worry about toxic pesticides.
I've been writing and teaching about nature for 24 years since one of my first jobs as a biology tutor in college.
We founded Gardens That Matter in 2015 to help gardeners who want to grow healthy food and a healthy planet.
I look forward to hearing about your garden and supporting your learning journey!
As seen in:
What's Included?
✅ 8 in-depth modules with 58 lessons and 9+ hours of video instruction you can watch anytime
✅ 20+ exercises with printable guides to help you build real skills and track progress
✅ Access our ad-free private community for support, answers, and encouragement
✅ Live Gardener Meetups with Amy—we can connect, get inspired, and troubleshoot together
✅ Lifetime access + updates so you can return to deepen your learning, season after season
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Here's how it works...
1. Take the Course
Discover the amazing world in your soil. Learn at your own pace with vidoes on-demand on any computer, tablet, or phone.
2. Nurture Your Soil
Put the 7 healthy soil habits into practice and you'll be creating rich soil with natural fertility and resilience during times of drought.
3. Enjoy Your Garden
Everything is easier when you have a good foundation of healthy soil! Share your wins and get ongoing support inside our community.
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Scholarships
We aim to provide a learning experience that’s accessible, inclusive, and sustainable. We strive to keep our courses affordable to pay our employees fairly.
Scholarships are available so that cost is never a barrier for those who want to learn with us. Reach out to Amy by email or schedule a short call to learn more.
Let's dig a bit deeper.
Foundations of a Happy Garden is available on-demand, so you can move through the lessons at your own pace. If you dedicate 1-2 hours per week to the training and exercises, you'll be able to complete the course in about 6 weeks.
Here's some of what you'll learn...
Module 1: The SOIL ART Approach
- Discover why soil is the deciding factor in your garden's success or failure.
- Find out the 7 healthy soil habits every gardener should cultivate (and how they build on each other to give you more harvest and less work)
- Turn your garden to-do list into a focused plan for success
Module 2: The Dirt on Dirt (The science-y bit)
- Get a glimpse into the hidden world beneath your boots.
- Know which part of soil is most important when it comes to your garden
- Learn why blueberries hate Western U.S. soils (and what you can do about it)
- Meet the wild and wonderful residents of soil
Module 3: What Kind of Soil Do I Have? (DIY soil testing time!)
- Understand your soil better by getting your hands dirty
- Find out what worms can tell you
- Learn 5 tests you can do for FREE (plus 2 more that only cost a few bucks)
- Make sure your next "lab" test gives you results you can actually use
Module 4: The Gold in Compost
- Get ready to make your own "black gold"
- Learn a basic compost recipe you can adapt based on your own resources
- Find out why the "carbon-to-nitrogen" ratio doesn't have to be confusing
Module 5: A Method to Your Composting Madness
- Find the perfect composting method for your yard and lifestyle
- Discover the difference between "lazy" and active compost (and why both can work...in different ways)
- Explore 12+ different methods you could try, including a few that work all winter long!
Module 6: The Magic of Mulch
- See the 3 ways mulch can benefit more than just your plants
- Find out where you should NEVER add thick mulch
- Learn why one type of mulch could kill your garden and how to avoid it
Module 7: The Power of Plant Allies
- Learn what and when to plant for best results
- Find out which cover crops work best for your season and location
- Create an easy system for keeping your annual veggies healthier with bed rotations
Module 8: The Benefits of Biodiversity
- Explore how to boost biodiversity to new levels!
- Learn the three requirements for any gardener who wants to grow with nature
- Pull it all together into a plan for your own yard and a timeline to make it happen
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Watch a Preview
Here's a sample lesson so that you can see for yourself what the course is like.
This one is an overview of The 7 Healthy Soil Habits. We explore each strategy fully inside the course so that you can use them to create healthy, living soil in your garden.
And that's not all! Take a look at these bonuses...
Bonus #1
Support in the Gardens That Matter Community Forum
You'll access your course inside our private online community on Mighty Networks. You'll also get access to our Community Forum where you can post questions, share ideas, and connect with other gardeners.
Bonus #2
Live Q&A Group Calls
Amy hosts live "Gardeners' Meetups" most Thursday evenings. Hop on to talk about what's happening in your garden, troubleshoot issues, and get a boost of accountability.
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Giving Back
When you join Gardens That Matter, you’re not just helping your own garden thrive — you’re also making a difference for plants and pollinators around the world.
That's because a portion of each purchase supports community organizations and nonprofits dedicated to conservation, education, and caring for people and the planet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What others have asked before digging into Foundations of a Happy Garden
When does the course start and finish?
The self-guided course begins when you make your purchase. You have on-demand, lifetime access to the materials. You can return anytime to watch videos, download worksheets, and revisit lessons at your own pace.
What media does the course use?
We use video and written media to deliver this course, and you can use them on any device.
How long do I have access to the course?
You have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I'm new to gardening?
If you're brand new, I suggest starting with Start Your First Garden.
If you've grown for at least a season, you'll benefit from this intermediate course and be able to shorten the learning curve. If you've been growing plants for awhile, these insights and habits will help you take your garden's health to a whole new level.
What is your refund policy?
I offer a 100% money-back 30-day "Good-as-Black-Gold" guarantee. I want you to be thrilled with the courses you purchase from Gardens That Matter and the progress they help you make. Otherwise, simply email me for a full refund.
You've read this far, so you know how important soil is for your garden's success. What you may not know is that the longer you wait, the less impact your soil care routines will have.
Living things need time to eat, grow, and reproduce. Many of the microbes in your compost and soil continue to grow and spread through any weather. Each of your actions to nurture soil grows exponentially when you start early.
You can take steps, TODAY, to boost these natural cycles.
Your garden, dinner table, and family will benefit.
The time to start is now.
You want your garden to be a joy...not a drag. And now, you know that healthy soil is the key.
I'd love for you to join me in Foundations of a Happy Garden, but maybe you're still not sure if it's right for you...
You've got two options:
1. Email me with your questions at amy@gardensthatmatter.com. If it's not a good fit, I'll let you know. Be sure to include your phone number.
2. Enroll in the class and see for yourself. Remember, I've got a 100% unconditional money-back guarantee - 30 days risk-free means you can go through the course and, if you're not satisfied, still request a refund. I want you to be thrilled with your experience and results!
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