Four years ago, Mindy and Eric Young knew very little about gardening. But as the owners of an 1864 farmhouse in Bountiful, the Youngs wanted to restore the original structure and bring a garden back to the property.

The large garden was full of weeds so the Youngs’ adult children helped clear the area and established a small garden that has since expanded.

“I got a wild hair saying I wanted to garden,” Mindy said. “My passion is being outside. I love it out there. There are multiple benefits from gardening, not just the healthy food side of it. For me, it’s mental and spiritual and gives me a purpose and energy that is healthy.” 

The Youngs started a YouTube channel devoted to gardening in suburban areas. The Bountiful Farmhouse allows them to share the progress of the garden as well as information about rainwater collection, seeding, irrigation projects, canning, chicken coop construction and more. 

The COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 brought about a resurgence of people interested in growing food and taking care of livestock. Mindy had an additional incentive for harvesting healthy food after Eric was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive and incurable cancer two years ago. 

While Eric’s cancer is in remission, he believes growing their own food made a difference in his overall health. 

“At the onset of the cancer, that’s when Mindy started plotting and planning in earnest to grow food that you didn’t have to be around other people to harvest or buy. She wanted to create a cleaner palette for me,” he said. “You can go as simple as you want or as complicated as you want. For some people, it’s therapeutic.”

The goal of the YouTube channel is to share what the Youngs learn along the way and encourage anyone interested in creating their own garden, regardless of the size or location. The Young’s son lived in California and started a balcony garden where he grew squash, tomatoes, herbs, wildflowers and lemons. His garden became the highlight of the apartment complex. 

“People [with limited space] can realize the same type of results,” Mindy said. “Buy pots, build shelving, be creative. You can grow in any amount of space, even indoors if you have a window with enough capacity for light.”

Their labor of love has yielded two pantries full of canned items which brings a year-round benefit to the couple. As they restore the farmhouse and get the barn back to a functional state, they will share their journey on YouTube and encourage others to grow their own food. 

This spring they’ll build a new chicken coop, then harvesting starts in June with canning season running through October. While it does take dedication, Mindy said having a garden doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. She works a full-time job and gardens in her spare time with fantastic results. 

“Once it starts growing it’s definitely a monthly process and a commitment but it’s a labor of love,” Mindy said. “The garden became a refuge for me and a place to escape the stress of everyday life. I’d go out and watch tiny seeds grow into plants and yield their food. It was very satisfying.”

Mindy, who is a Bountiful High School grad, said the purpose of the channel is to share the joy and satisfaction of growing food, being out in nature and sharing the bounty with friends and family.  Eric takes care of the garden boxes, drip irrigation systems and handles upkeep for the coops and structures.

“There are a lot of YouTube gardening channels out there, and we’re still trying to define what’s different about us and bring it to our viewers,” Eric said. “The natural appeal is Mindy and how she approaches and organizes and cares, and the love she puts into the ground that yields so much love back.” λ