Meet the FARMGIRLS of Garden Inspirations - Mother and Daughter duo, Marilyn Simmons & Donelle Simmons.  Although they both are originally from Canadian County in Oklahoma, they are avid North Texas Gardeners. 

Garden Inspirations is nestled between twin lakes (Donelle will say ponds) and surrounded by many trees and a meadow of wildflowers.  The company began in 2005 while Marilyn was working at The Greenery in Waxahachie.  Her passion of perennial gardening and overcoming the caliche and black clay challenge that plagues most of the North Texas area, she began her journey in raising fresh cut flowers. 

Donelle joined the fun family business when her interest in our food system began to grow.  (Living in Europe can change the way you think about your food!)  As Donelle began to work side-by-side with her mother planting fresh cut flowers in the cold winter days, they soon realized what a powerful team they made.

It was a trip to San Diego that inspired the two to reach out and educate on the importance of growing your own food.  Classes are taught in their living room and what begin with 10 students a year has blossomed to well over 200 students a year.  They feel that one way to fight the battle of our food system is to teach others how to grow their own food. 
The FarmGirls teach a variety of gardening classes, some are one hour workshops and some are 8 week courses.  From teaching you how to grow your own food, how to preserve your own food, and how to save your seeds so you can do it all over again the next season, you won’t be disappointed in any of the classes.

A quote from the FarmGirls:
“It is our mission to encourage, produce, challenge and promote every family in America to learn some aspect of Vegetable Gardening. We believe we have gone too far from our roots. Americans need to know how to be more self-sustainable like our ancestors were. Not that everyone has to garden but we need to know that we can garden, grow our own produce, KNOW WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM and preserve our fresh vegetables from our own harvest. We encourage gardening on all levels, large and small; even if it is a container on the back porch or on an apartment balcony, PLANT SOMETHING EDIBLE. It is very rewarding to reap a harvest from a tiny seed of hope.”  - Marilyn & Donelle Simmons