When Hindy Weber started growing food in their backyard in 2007, little did she know that it will turn into a holistic advocacy. With a surplus of harvest, Hindy shared their backyard produce with family and friends—and Holy Carabao was born. Since then, she relates, “It’s become a full-fledged business operating from a farm and commissary. We have distributed to hotels, restos, and supermarkets, and we continue to do door-to-door delivery. We also do farm tours, workshops, and events.”

After more than 10 years, Holy Carabao remains committed to its guiding principle: to provide healthy, ethically grown food cultivated in healthy soil, with no pesticides, GMOs, and other harmful chemicals. “To this day, we have not compromised our principles, and we have the opportunity to teach this to school-age children,” Hindy beams with pride.

Here, she shares a few tips on how to start a small garden at home.

Get the right tools.

There are a few basic tools for container gardening. For starters, Hindy suggests getting pots with drainage holes, a hand trowel, a watering can, non-GMO seeds, and good soil. You may expand your gardening arsenal as you go along, but these basic items should be enough to jumpstart your journey to growing a green thumb.

Take baby steps.

It might be tempting to buy one or two of those “it” plants you see on Instagram. However, some of those pretty greens are not that easy to care for. “Plant local, easy-to-grow ‘bahay kubo’ crops. Start with your favorite herbs that you use in your cooking,” says Hindy.

To ensure your chances of success, go for seedlings instead of seeds, Hindy adds. Planting seeds are more challenging because they require certain conditions, while seedlings from nurseries are more likely to survive because they already got a head start.

 Holy Carabao Seedlings

Do your research.

The Web offers a ton of gardening tips and tricks for beginners—from repotting plants and proper watering to pest control and propagating. Hindy suggests watching gardening videos to learn more about your new hobby. Summer Rayne Oakes and Planterina on YouTube dish out practical DIY home garden ideas, while The Spruce website offers a wealth of information.

Find a go-to supplier.

“Befriend a farmer who has good soil and compost,” Hindy says. Find a suki supplier. That way, you’ll know the seedlings and supplies you’re bringing home are of good quality. Establishing a good relationship with your go-to garden store will get you good deals. You can also ask them for advice when you encounter hiccups in your garden.

Take it easy.

Gardening is a continuous learning process. There are no hard and fast rules, so don’t stress yourself too much when a pot of herb dies. Even the most seasoned gardener still encounters one or two problems

Growing plants, whether ornamental or edible, is an exercise in patience. While there are guidelines on how to grow your own home garden, remember that each plant is different. Care instructions are not a one-size-fits-all manual, so it’s still best to pay attention to your green babies to learn how to properly care for them. With the right TLC, your green babies will soon reward you with lush foliage, dainty blooms, or a handful of fruits.

Visit Hindy Weber's latest collaboration with Domesticity : Fine Gardening Essentials