I remember getting up early on hot summer mornings to work in my grandparents' garden. As a child who would have much preferred to watch cartoons. I could not have imagined how much peace and enjoyment I would eventually find in my own gardens as an adult.

As soon as I had the space of my own, I began to plant. But around that same time, I also learned that the perplexing ailments which had plagued both of my grandmothers were beginning to appear in my own body. Years of frustration and misdiagnoses ultimately resulted in a harsh reality: multiple autoimmune conditions and chronic illness.

I pushed through the symptoms and chronic pain and was "successful" by all traditional measures. However, my physical health continued to deteriorate.

Now, much older and hopefully a little wiser—after multiple hospitalizations and the painful realization that my daughter, another type-A, high-achieving soul, is struggling with similar conditions—I decided it was time to make a change.

Blessed with a supportive husband, an Air Force veteran with a love for farming, we abandoned our high-stress approach to life. We chose to focus instead on health, faith and balance.

My husband’s mother passed suddenly when he was just fifteen years old, leaving him and his father to wonder what was missing in her medical care. "Three Grandmas" will honor their resilience, kindness, and faith. We will continue to grow and give to others from our gardens. Because of them, love grows here.

Our hope now is to share what we have learned with our son and daughter to save others precious time on their own path to wellness—beginning with what feeds us.