A Canyon Homestead in Full Bloom
One acre. Countless projects. Lifetime of Learning
Goose & Garden
WELCOME TO
About the Gardner
Hi, I’m Elizabeth—a nature and garden enthusiast slowly turning our canyon lot into a space that feels alive. My husband Jose and I built this homestead together, one project at a time. Every raised bed, trellis, and chicken coop is the result of shared effort, late-night YouTube tutorials, and a lot of trial and error.
I use this space to slow down and take notice—but also to dream big. I imagine walk-in garden enclosures filled with butterflies, a goat castle tucked into the hillside, and maybe even a few unexpected ideas that haven’t fully taken root yet. This site is part journal, part gallery, and part long-term vision board for the wild little world we’re building here.
Thanks for being part of it,
Elizabeth B.
What We’re Growing
Our homestead is home to over 80 edible and medicinal plants, including a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and healing botanicals. We grow 36 types of fruit, from tropical favorites like dragon fruit and Philippine mango to multiple citrus, apple, and banana varieties. Our 23 vegetables range from leafy greens and heirlooms to tubers and edible flowers like artichokes and cactus pads. We cultivate 18 culinary herbs, including over 10 kinds of mint (yes, chocolate mint included), as well as sweet basil, thyme, lemongrass, and three lavenders. And in our medicinal garden, we’re growing 8 gentle powerhouses like aloe vera, holy basil, citronella, and stinging nettle — traditionally used for teas, salves, and wellness tonics. Click HERE to check out our edible garden inventory.
Moments that Landed
Moments I refuse to forget—and ones I’m proud I noticed in time to catch.
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Back View) – July 22, 2024
I wasn’t feeling great that day—maybe coming down with something—so I stretched out in the hammock to rest for a bit. Not long after, I looked up and saw a flash of yellow darting through the pink gaura. Goose was curled up beside me. Goji was rustling around in the bushes across the yard, probably looking for a lizard or something else to chase. For a few seconds, everything felt quiet.
I’d seen what looked like two of these birds chasing each other in the garden earlier that week, but they moved too fast to catch clearly. This time, one landed. I didn’t dare move or call for Jose—I knew I’d miss the moment. So I stayed where I was and quietly snapped as many photos as I could from the hammock.
I managed to get a side shot (that one’s in the Wildlife Gallery), but it’s this view from behind that stayed with me. The yellow was so vivid it felt loud—almost too much color for one bird. Even from behind, he was striking.
Jewel in the Dirt- July 14, 2025
This is the first clear shot I’ve managed to get of a June bug—and it only took me two and a half weeks, one upside-down hang, and some frantic dog-shooing to make it happen.
They’re in peak mating season right now, so I’ve been hearing the males buzzing around nonstop, zipping past like tiny helicopters with places to be. This one was burrowed in the dirt when I spotted her, and I had just enough time to reposition myself (literally upside down) and take the photo before she launched straight at my face.
Pretty sure she was looking for a place to lay her eggs. I was not volunteering.
She’s gone now, but I’m still kind of in awe of how shiny and strange she looked up close. Totally worth the dirt in my hair.
1st Tomato of the Season- July 1, 2025
This is the first tomato we’ve picked this summer from our Better Bush plant. It has such a fun shape—kind of like a mini pumpkin—and the color is super vibrant. We’ve got a bunch more coming in, but they’re still green for now.
What makes this one even better is the timing—we’re having burgers tonight, so it’s going straight onto a plate with some Swiss chard from the yard. I’m hoping it’s as juicy as it looks. Our giant beefsteak tomato plant is also coming along, and I can’t wait to see how big those get. But for now, this little guy is kicking off the season just right.
Baby Mourning Dove- June 25, 2025
What caught me most in this moment wasn’t just the bird—it was the shape. From this angle, the curve of the beak and the dark, almond-shaped eyes create a striking symmetry I didn’t even notice until after I took the shot. There’s something both soft and intense in the way this baby dove looks forward—calm, but alert. I had been greeting it every morning, and this ended up being the last photo I took before it left the nest and took its first flight. I’m still learning how to frame, how to catch the light, how to be ready—but this photo reminded me that sometimes, it’s enough to simply notice the face looking back at you.
Meet the Family
Goose & Garden got its name from our goldendoodle, Goose—our original sidekick and still very much the heart of our homestead. Our animals are family, and the crew includes Goji the mini schnauzer, Momo the Zero Morph bearded dragon, and three hens: Butter (Buff Orpington), Cinnamom (Golden Laced Wyandotte), and Maple (Rhode Island Red).
