Welcome to A Little Dirt Can’t Hurt

I’m so glad you found your way here. This little blog has been sitting in the back of my mind (and my heart) for a long time, and now that it’s finally sprouting, it feels right to start with a simple introduction.

Grab a cup of tea, and let me tell you a little about who I am, what this space is all about, and why I decided to take the leap and start A Little Dirt Can’t Hurt.

Who Am I?

First off, I’m Nicole! I’m originally from Vermont and moved to Texas in 2014. My entire adult career has been in the corporate world, specializing in IT Infrastructure Solutions.

I’m also the “owner” of two dogs and two cats — though it’s pretty clear they’re the ones in charge.

After spending about 25 years focused heavily on my career, I realized I wasn’t spending as much time with my animals as I wanted. Working from home has been a blessing. It lets me be with them throughout the day and saves me from long commutes, which has been much better for my stress levels in an already demanding field.

I also realized I wanted more out of life than just my IT career. I needed something that wasn’t technology-driven — something that let me step away from screens and get back to the earth a little. I’ve been gardening for years on my own, and while I’ve always loved it, I found myself wanting to slow my brain down, learn more hands-on skills, and build a different kind of balance into my life.

Why I Started This Business

I’ve always enjoyed helping people realize their own skills and sense of fulfillment. For a while, I thought about going back to school to become a nutritionist, or teaching people how to build sustainable gardens so they could feed themselves. I even considered becoming a full-on landscaper. All of those paths were appealing, but they didn’t feel quite right for me. Still, I knew I wanted to do something.

In 2021, I registered A Little Dirt Can’t Hurt, LLC, even though I didn’t have a clear direction yet — I just felt strongly that there was something meaningful there waiting to grow.

I eventually hired a business coach who works specifically with women starting their own businesses. I still work full-time in my corporate career, so shifting my mindset each day from IT infrastructure to small-business building has been an adjustment, but it’s also been rewarding in its own way.

I knew I genuinely enjoyed gardening, growing food and herbs, troubleshooting, trying new plants, answering questions in Facebook gardening groups, learning from other gardeners, researching, experimenting, and bringing some of my logical, problem-solving skills into the process. All of that helped me realize that this was the direction I wanted to follow — something hands-on, personal, and connected to the earth.

From there, I narrowed it down to helping people grow their own food and herbs — a place where I felt I could truly provide value. I discovered Gardenary’s garden coaching program and decided it might help fill in some of the gaps in my business and gardening knowledge. The program was incredible, and I met women from all over the country who wanted the same things I did!

My Journey So Far

Over the last few years, I’ve been steadily building my gardening knowledge and skills. I completed the Gardenary Garden Coaching program in 2023, joined a volunteer program focused on conserving and protecting our natural environment, and in 2025 I began working toward my Native Plant Society Landscaping certification. These learning experiences helped me deepen my understanding of gardening, native plants, and the importance of working with nature instead of against it.

During that time, I also started taking on garden clients — answering questions, helping them troubleshoot, and filling in the gaps in their knowledge. In 2024, I began offering workshops, which eventually grew into hosting small, relaxed workshops in people’s homes for girls’ days, clubs, and family gatherings. Along the way, I discovered how much I enjoy making things with my own hands. What started as an idea to go to farmers markets and show people what they could do with their harvests slowly turned into creating custom herbal tea blends, baking sourdough, making simmer potpourri, and developing more products that are on the way. I also learned about Texas Cottage Laws and started a Facebook group for small businesses in my town — it’s about giving small makers and service providers a platform to allow them to shine.

Although these steps might look a little scattered on paper, they all make sense to me. Everything I’ve done connects back to one concept: creating a rooted life. I wanted a grounded version of myself that could be multi-faceted — someone who can teach others how to build their own “lite” homestead, no matter where they live, whether in an apartment, a suburban home, or anything in between.

Where I’m Heading

Looking ahead, my goal is to continue building a business that supports people who want to create a more grounded, intentional way of living — especially those who like to DIY but want someone experienced to guide them along the way. I want to work with clients who don’t necessarily need a landscaper, but who appreciate having a mentor to walk beside them — someone who can help with garden design, garden planning, hands-on support, or any skills they feel they’re missing, whether we’re meeting in person or connecting virtually.

I offer one-on-one coaching, yearly coaching programs, and supplemental hours for people who need extra help as they go. I collaborate with other small business owners when garden builds or specialty skills are needed, creating a network of support so clients receive well-rounded guidance. Supporting and uplifting small makers and service providers will continue to be an important part of how my business grows.

My workshops already take place in homes, in small groups, and through hands-on sessions, and I’ll continue expanding these offerings into online formats as well. I’m also continuing to develop my handmade product line and sharing simple, everyday skills that help people make the most of what they grow.

More than anything, I want to maintain a space where people feel supported, not judged — where they can ask questions, try new things, and build gardens and homes that feel like their own. As this business continues to grow and shift into 2026 and beyond, so will I. And as I learn, make, experiment, and build, I’ll continue helping others create their own multifaceted, meaningful version of a rooted life.