My Story

CaMeSo Gardens grew from a long-held dream of bringing people together through food, learning, and community. That dream has taken different shapes over the years, but its purpose has remained the same: to share what I know and help others grow, cook, and eat well.

My love of gardening began in high school and has continued to grow ever since. As the sole owner of CaMeSo Gardens, I lead the operation with occasional helping hands from family, bringing a personal, hands-on approach to what we grow and share with our community.

I am a professionally trained chef, an honors graduate of Johnson & Wales University, and a Master Gardener. My journey includes becoming the first African American female chef intern at Colonial Williamsburg, receiving the Young Culinarian Award, becoming a Pillsbury competition finalist, and winning the Steve Harvey Morning Show and Hillshire Farm “Go Meat, Mama!” recipe competition. What matters most to me is using those experiences to help others.

The places I’ve called home shaped both my cooking and my sense of community.

Growing up in Turkey introduced me to the rich traditions of Mediterranean cooking: lamb, olive oil, fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs and spices, and grains, brought together through time-honored techniques that let each ingredient shine.

Jamaica surrounded me with the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean: fiery peppers, aromatic seasonings, tropical ingredients, and deeply flavored, slow-simmered dishes. Those experiences taught me how food can express a place’s spirit and bring people together with warmth and generosity.

The Deep South deepened my love for soulful cooking: tender greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and meals prepared with patience and love. These traditions remind me that feeding people is also a way of caring for them.

Caribbean | Mediterranean | Soul

That is the heart of CaMeSo.

Here in Lampasas, Texas, I grow vegetable and herb starts selected for flavor, usefulness in the kitchen, and our Central Texas growing conditions. With grocery costs challenging household budgets, I want to help people grow what they can and make thoughtful use of their harvest.

I also preserve the harvest through freeze-drying, giving people another way to enjoy flavorful vegetables and herbs year-round, beyond the growing season.

My purpose reaches beyond the plants and products I sell. I want CaMeSo Gardens to be a welcoming source of encouragement and practical knowledge, helping people feel more confident in the garden and the kitchen, whatever their background or experience.

To me, community stewardship means caring for the soil, making thoughtful use of what we grow, and sharing knowledge that others can use and pass along. Whether someone starts with a single pot of herbs or an established garden, I hope to offer something that helps them grow.

From Garden to Table.

You Haven’t Lived Until You CaMeSo!