Seasonal Garden Update + How I Stay Organized as a Solo Business Owner

Every time I remember that we're into August now, I can't quite believe it. Where did the summer go? It feels like just yesterday it was Mother's Day and I was getting ready to plant my garden. Now I've blinked and it's almost time for kids to go back to school, the days to get shorter, and the weather to cool off.

I'm excited to say, though, that my garden has been really successful this year. I put more effort into keeping up with the weeds and harvesting produce sooner so the plants keep producing, and those changes definitely paid off.

When you think about it, that idea relates directly to running a business. The more effort and research you put in, the better and more abundant the results. Things are slow at first, and you may not see anything for a while, but the rewards come with time. It's genuinely rewarding to watch your hard work pay off.

What's Growing Right Now

A little breakdown of my current garden: my husband built a beautiful raised bed last year, and we're putting it to good use this season. We also have a patch from our old garden that we're using for things that need more room to spread out, like squash.

Raised bed garden:

• Tomatoes

• Kale

• Cucumbers

• Broccoli

• Hungarian peppers

• Jalapeños

• Snacking peppers

• Banana peppers

• Celery

Dirt patch garden:

• Zinnias

• Yellow squash

• Spaghetti squash

• Zucchini

So far, we've had tons of kale, broccoli, cucumbers, peppers, and squash. I'm sure at some point I'll get sick of eating zucchini noodles every week, but there's nothing quite like eating fresh vegetables you grew yourself.

The other great addition this year has been the zinnias. For the past few years I've tried growing various flowers from seed without much luck. This year I bought zinnias that were already started, and they've done wonderfully. I've made a point of pruning them regularly so they keep growing back fuller. There's something so rewarding about having a bouquet of flowers from your own backyard. I also had a few zinnias I successfully started from seed this time. They're a bit behind the ones that were already started, but I'm hopeful they'll catch up.

What the Garden Is Teaching Me About Business Right Now

Gardening isn't just rewarding on its own. It's also taught me a lot about seasonal rhythms, commitment, and consistency.

Just like running a business, not every month looks the same, and that's okay. Some months you're planning. Some you're planting seeds and waiting patiently. Some you're putting in the extra effort to weed. In business, those same seasons show up: planning your next move, networking and reaching out to potential clients, or weeding out the habits and even the clients that don't serve you.

Ultimately, all of that work matters, but the real key is patience and consistency. You don't give up after you plant the seeds. You stick with the plan and let time pass until you're ready to reap the benefit. Consistent effort over time beats any last minute scramble, and there's real pride in watching something grow that you built from scratch.

How I Actually Stay Organized Running Rooted Number Co. Solo

Just like the garden bed my husband built to hold my plants, it's important to have something in place to organize your business and hold all the work you're putting into it. Since starting my business in January, I've invested in a few systems to help run my solo accounting practice. To name a few: I use Financial Cents to manage clients and workflows, QuickBooks Online for the actual work, and Google's platforms for everything else, like email, scheduling, and calls.

When I was starting out, I got some good advice that you don't always need software right away, and a lot can be done in Excel when you're just getting started. That's true, but I've had no regrets about investing in Financial Cents. It gives me a place to store client information, organize my monthly tasks, accept payments, and even offer a portal for clients to communicate with me and upload documents securely. It's been well worth it.

I stay organized by leaning on these platforms and structuring my week. Keeping in mind that I currently work another full time job and run this practice around it, here's roughly what my week looks like:

• Mondays and Tuesdays: I focus on social media and my blog. I come out of the weekend refreshed and ready to reconnect, so I write and refine my weekly blog post and create the social posts to go with it. I also answer emails and knock out anything with a deadline.

• Wednesdays and Thursdays: I make sure all monthly bookkeeping for clients is up to date and moving smoothly. I request documents from clients if needed and keep everything on track for their deadlines.

• Fridays: I keep it light and follow whatever has my motivation that day, whether that's content creation or more bookkeeping work.

Throughout the week, I'm always making time for calls with current clients or initial conversations with new ones.

Between the software and the weekly rhythm, I feel like I stay pretty organized and motivated.

The Habits That Carry Over Between Garden and Business

Running a small business and tending a garden have more in common than you'd think.

You have to show up every day and put in the effort to see results over time. Just like checking client bank feeds daily or weekly, you have to water your plants. Small, consistent check ins are what let you reap the reward without burning yourself out.

There are seasonal deep cleans, too. Just like you clean up your garden bed and prepare it for new plants in the spring, sometimes you take on a new client whose books need cleaning up. Put in the hard work on the foundation, whether that's the soil or the books, and you're far more likely to see success down the road.

And don't forget, patience is required for anything that takes time to grow. Plants don't produce vegetables overnight, and you may not land your first client for quite a while when you're starting a business from scratch. Just like tending your plants, you have to build connections and grow a network before that first client ever shows up. The more effort you put in, the better the long term results will be. Be patient and consistent, and good things will come.

Closing

Why did I go on so long about all these connections? Honestly, because I think gardening and entrepreneurship really do have a lot in common, and because I love both. It's exciting to enjoy fresh vegetables grown in my own backyard, and it's just as exciting to be my own boss, earning income that reflects exactly how much effort I put in.

Rooted Number Co. isn't just a name. It reflects my love for both gardening and my accounting practice. It's a reminder that every number has roots, and that good numbers grow when you give them the attention they deserve.

Thank you for being here and letting me share what I'm passionate about.

- Natalie