We’d love to connect.

  • Request Information

    Complete this quick form to tell us a bit about your space and garden dreams and we’ll get back to you right away. Next steps may include a phone call or on-site consultation.

    Get Started

  • Client Login

    Existing Tennessee Kitchen Gardens clients log in here to view proposals, make payments, and manage your schedule.

    View Your Account

  • Get Social

    Follow us on Instagram for garden tips, tours of gorgeous gardens, behind-the-scenes installation updates, and general plant fun and silliness.

    Follow on Instagram

Meet the Team

  • Sarah Ruzic

    FOUNDER AND CEO

    A proud “garden nerd,” Sarah started her first veggie patch in a remote village in Guatemala in 2005, and has been designing and redesigning gardens in Tennessee since 2012. After a decade of balancing her career as a high school English teacher with her passion for gardening, she founded Tennessee Kitchen Gardens to share the joy of growing your own food with her community. Whether it’s comma placement or soil composition, she’s curious about everything. Her favorite crop to grow is kabocha squash.

  • Abi Tapia

    DESIGNER, DIRECTOR OF GARDEN OPERATIONS, AND WHATEVER ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE

    With a 25-year career in the music business, including roles as a singer-songwriter and live event producer at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Abi has been immersed in creativity. But while music was her career, gardening has always been her love language — she’s left a trail of veggie plots and flower beds at every rental house and ex-boyfriend’s yard she’s ever set foot in. Now she channels her creativity into growing all the flowers and lives for lettuce season in her East Nashville garden.

  • Melissa Beasley

    GARDENER

  • Emily Hardesty

    GARDENER

  • Leia Buchanan

    GARDENER

  • Lindsay Westfall

    GARDENER AND WRITER

  • Donielle Freeberg

    GARDENER

Join the Team

We are always seeking passionate plant people to join our crew of garden nerds. Current available positions are listed below.

  • Job Type: Seasonal, On-call

    Location: Various Residences (Primarily working in raised bed vegetable gardens)

    Shift Length: 3-7 hours per shift, 2-4 days per month

    Job Description:

    We are seeking a dedicated and reliable Garden Maintenance Specialist to join our team on a seasonal, on-call basis. The ideal candidate will have a passion for gardening, particularly in the care and maintenance of raised-bed vegetable gardens. This position involves working at various residential locations, ensuring the health and productivity of vegetable gardens through regular maintenance tasks. Work is directed and executed with a larger team. 


    Key Responsibilities:

    - Perform routine garden maintenance tasks including weeding, watering, pruning, and harvesting.

    - Monitor the health of plants, identify pests and diseases, and apply organic pest control methods as needed.

    - Prepare soil for planting by adding compost, fertilizers, and other amendments.

    - Plant seeds, seedlings, and transplants following specific garden plans and layouts.

    - Maintain garden tools and equipment, ensuring they are clean and in good working condition.

    - Follow all safety guidelines and procedures to ensure a safe working environment.


    Qualifications:

    - Prior experience in gardening, horticulture, or a related field is preferred.

    - Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

    - Excellent communication and customer service skills.

    - Ability to manage time effectively to complete tasks within scheduled timeframes.

    - Flexibility to work the seasonal schedule, including occasional weekends or early mornings, depending on client needs and weather delays.


    Requirements:

    - Ability to perform physical tasks, including lifting up to 30 pounds, bending, kneeling, and working outdoors in various weather conditions.

    - Familiarity with basic gardening techniques, including planting, weeding, pruning, and mulching.

    - Reliable transportation to travel to various residential locations.


    If you have a green thumb and enjoy working outdoors, we encourage you to apply.


    To Apply:

    Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your gardening experience, interest, and availability to abi@tennesseekitchengardens.com