How to make friends with Seed Starts

How Seed Starts Helped Me Find Community

There was a spring not too long after we moved to Germany when I realized how deeply I needed real friendship and community.

Like many military families know well, every new duty station comes with a season of starting over. Outside of the squadron, connection can feel difficult to find — especially when your life revolves around home, homeschooling, gardening, family rhythms, and a desire to live intentionally.

At the time, gardening had already become a quiet joy in my life. For several years, I had been learning to grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables from seed in our backyard garden. It gave me something hopeful to nurture during a season that often felt uncertain.

One afternoon, a simple thought came to mind:
Maybe seed starts could become a way to gather people together.

So we started small.

I collected seed trays, a few disposable cups, and easy-to-grow seeds suited for our new growing zone. Then I shared a simple invitation in a local homeschool group for a seed exchange and plant swap meetup at the base library.

This was shortly after the pandemic, when many people were still hesitant to gather. But we showed up anyway — and I’m so thankful we did.

What began as a simple gardening meetup slowly became something much deeper. Through conversations about seeds, soil, and growing seasons, I met women who valued many of the same things we did: caring for their homes, raising their families intentionally, learning traditional skills, and building community in meaningful ways.

Over time, those friendships grew into shared life. We exchanged gardening tips, homemade recipes, soap making ideas, tallow balm recipes, local hikes, playground meetups, and encouragement through different seasons of motherhood and military life.

And somewhere along the way, the Lord was working in ways I could never have planned myself.

At that point in our lives, we were still searching for a solid church home. We longed for faithful biblical teaching and genuine Christian community, but we were cautious after years of watered-down preaching that had left our spiritual walk stagnant.

Eventually, through one of those friendships, we were invited to a small church gathering. From the beginning, we were welcomed with kindness, patience, and truth. Over time, that season led me to believer’s baptism — and later, two of our children as well. Looking back, it is clear the Lord was gently guiding our family long before we could fully see it ourselves.

Many of those women remain dear friends today. Though military life has scattered us across different places, we still stay connected through messages, prayers, gardens, and everyday encouragement.

And it all began with seeds.

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…”
Hebrews 10:24–25 (KJV)

My hope in sharing this story is simple: don’t underestimate small beginnings.

Sometimes community doesn’t begin with a large event or perfectly planned program. Sometimes it starts with an open hand, a shared skill, and the willingness to invite others in.

Plant the seeds. Open your table. Trust the Lord with the growth.

You never know what He may grow from something small.

— Kami B.
The Makers Table