About

I'm sitting on a chair looking my left hand on my chin and right hand on my knee legs crossed, with veggies in brown basket bedise me on a table

About Florence Straka — Founder of Gardeningvava

My name is Florence Straka, though many people call me Naomi, a name lovingly given to me at birth. I am a Ghanaian farmgirl now living in the United States, and I created Gardeningvava to help beginners grow their own vegetables and herbs—whether in containers, in the ground/earth, or raised garden beds—so they can cook, share, and enjoy healthy, organic food with their families.

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MEET THE TEAM

Green banana peppers in brown weaving basket held in a palm

Harvested fresh peppers

Sitting on steps on my deck outside holding brown weaved basket with assorted veggies in it.

The joy of harvesting veggies and herbs

Florence Straka

FOUNDER & CEO

Gardeningvava is more than gardening.
It is about confidence, tradition, nourishment, and purpose.

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🌱 My Roots: A Farmgirl from Ghana

I was raised in a family of farmers and traders in the Volta Region of Ghana. My mother, grandmother, and uncles taught me traditional farming skills—how to plant with intention, cook from scratch, preserve food naturally, and use every harvest with purpose. Nothing was wasted.

Our Home in Ghana Me My mother and Aunty Pat

My childhood also held deep challenges. My mother, younger brother, and I survived years of physical and mental abuse in a farming village at the hands of my stepfather. Through God’s mercy, He carried us through the fear, sorrow, hardship, and uncertainty, turning my pain into purpose, strength, and wisdom. I give Him all the glory.

Those early lessons shaped not only how I grow food but also how I live. What was meant to break me became the soil where purpose, strength, and wisdom grew. I give God all the glory.

🌍 From Ghana to America: Rediscovering Growth

I moved to the United States in 2008. Gardening became a way for me to stay grounded—it reminded me of home, of my mother, and of who I am at my core.

AT The Airport In May 7th, 2008, With Family

When I first started growing here, I struggled with heavy clay soil in my backyard. Nothing seemed to thrive. In 2015, I discovered container gardening, and everything changed. I learned that you can grow abundant food—even with limited space, busy seasons, or difficult soil.

Since then, I’ve grown most of my vegetables and herbs at home, including:
Tomatoes, peppers, okra, basil, parsley, onions, collard greens, ginger, mint, corn, and more.

Today, I rarely buy these in stores—and the joy of growing and cooking my own food never fades.

sitting on a chair left hand on my chin smilling holding a brown weaving basket in my hands with yellow and ripe red tomatoes in it

Varieties of peppers, onions, tomatoes one dried okra on a round, wide tray

Growing your own food is not just practical; it’s also rewarding. It is healing, refreshing, empowering, and deeply fulfilling.

Why I Started Gardeningvava

In 2022, God placed it on my heart to begin teaching beginners what I had learned—both from my upbringing in Ghana and from my gardening journey in the United States. That calling became Gardeningvava.

four images_ one container with grown tomato , banana pepper, basil plants and me slightly bend staning in my container garden touching tomato plant leaves

Me, mama and ruby in my wakeman gardenearth in-ground farm in

Here, I share:

Step-by-step gardening tutorials
Container, earth/in-ground, and raised-bed methods
Composting and soil basics
Harvesting and food preservation
Garden-to-table cooking, rooted in Ghanaian tradition
Encouragement for women rebuilding confidence and purpose

I also share my personal life journey through my video podcast, Growth Mindset, where I speak openly about faith, resilience, restoration, and hope.

🎓 Education, Perseverance & Faith

At 39, I returned to college while working two jobs—seven days a week, with no days off—for four years. Through determination, discipline, and God’s strength, I graduated with honors in computer & digital forensics and engineering.

That season reminded me of a truth I live by:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
— Philippians 4:13

🌿 My Mission

Through GardeningVava, my mission is to help beginner women

Two iamges_ top image ready to harvet grown container curley parsley and grown sage in container in my garden

A tray of seedlings sitting on three bags of potting mix soil

Grow vegetables and herbs with confidence
Learn container, earth/in-ground, and raised-bed gardening
Preserve and use what they harvest
Transform fresh produce into simple, nourishing meals
Build healthier homes and meaningful traditions
Live inspired, faith-rooted lives—one step at a time

If you are starting, restarting, or feeling unsure, you are in the right place. Your gardening journey begins here, with clarity, encouragement, and a sister who truly believes in you. 🌿