A Bit About Me
Hello everyone! My name is Erin, and I am the owner and gardener extraordinaire at Petite Gardens. I come from generations of North Carolina farmers, but it’s only in the last four years that I’ve started my own garden and small garlic farm in Chapel Hill.
I come to the world of gardening as an international humanitarian who has spent the last decade working in refugee resettlement. Now, I am taking the values I’ve gained from working with people from all over the world—care, diversity, reciprocity, and patience—and applying them to the garden.
For me, gardening is both a spiritual experience and a revolutionary act. I cherish learning from the land and her stewards, and sharing those gifts with my community.
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Education as it relates to gardening
I have received both a BA in Psychology from the University of NC Greensboro and a Master of International Development Policy from Duke University. I believe in formal education, but particularly with gardening and agriculture, I also believe you can't beat the lessons from the plants themselves and their historic stewards that exist in a variety of settings. Currently, I am an avid reader, attentive gardener, take community classes and hope to start the Extension Master Gardener program next year. Below is a list of classes I've taken and plan to take.
April 2026
March 2026
February 2026
January 2026
NC Cooperative Extension Chatham County: Lifelong Gardening: Making Gardens More Accessible for Elderly and Low Mobility
NC Botanical Garden: Native Plant Lecture - Native Swagger: Turning Heads with Native Plants with Evelyn McNeill Sims
Gathered to Grow: "Squash Diversity: Understanding the Races of Squash and Their Food Uses" with Luke Moreno of Sakovai Seeds
Paper Garden Workshop: "Structure and Soul Garden Design Masterclass" with Lisa Nunamaker
NC Cooperative Extension Chatham County: Native and Invasive Plants of Creeks and Streams
NC Cooperative Extension Chatham County: Blueberry Pruning
New England Botanic Garden: Vanilla So Black with Derek Hayes, The Chocolate Botanist
NC Cooperative Extension Chatham County: Vegetable Seed Starting
Brie The Plant Lady Greenhouse Class:"Winter Seed Starting in the South" with Brie Arthur
Brie The Plant Lady, Greenhouse class: Winter Cottage Sowing with Brie Arthur
Agrarian Books
Books I've Read
Moore, K., & Bradley, L. K. (2022). North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook (Second). NC State Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NC State University.
Montgomery, D. R. (2018). Growing a revolution: Bringing our soil back to life. W.W. Norton & Company.
Kimmerer, R. W. (2013). Braiding Sweetgrass, Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Milkweed Editions.
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Wallace, I. (2013). The Timber Press Guide to vegetable gardening in the southeast. Timber Press.
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