To Box Garden or Not to Box Garden
If you had told my Beverly Hills childhood self that one day I’d be debating raised beds versus in-ground gardening, I probably would’ve laughed, grabbed my lip gloss, and hopped in my mom’s car to go get frozen yogurt on Canon. And yet—here we are.
Somewhere between Rodeo Drive and the mountains of Utah, I fell in love with the quiet ritual of growing things. Real things. Healthy things. Things that don’t care what you’re wearing or where you’re from. And now, I get messages from women all over the world—New York, London, Beijing, São Paulo—asking the same first question:
“Should I start with raised garden beds… or go straight into the ground?”
Welcome to Garden Series: Part One.
Let’s break it down, simply and honestly.
THE BOX GARDEN (RAISED BEDS) — THE BEVERLY HILLS FARM™ FAVORITE
A raised bed is exactly what it sounds like: a garden that sits above ground level, usually framed in wood, metal, or stone. Think structured, clean, organized—and yes, a little glam if you want it to be.
Why people love them:
They work anywhere. Rooftops in NYC, balconies in Tokyo, tiny patios in Paris, suburban backyards, or sprawling farms—they’re universal.
Better control. Soil, drainage, sunlight… you get to curate the environment like you’d curate an outfit.
Easier on the back. No bending into a pretzel to plant tomatoes.
Fewer critters. Not no critters—this is still nature—but fewer.
Beautiful to look at. There’s something so satisfying about the symmetry and structure they create.
Why they might not be for you:
They can get pricey. The materials, the soil, the filler… it adds up.
They dry out faster. Especially in hot climates.
You’re limited by size. Cucumbers and tomatoes don’t care about boundaries—they will sprawl.
THE IN-GROUND GARDEN — THE CLASSIC
This is the “plant directly into the earth” approach—no containers, no boxes, just land, soil, and your dreams.
Why purists swear by it:
Plants thrive in deep, natural soil. Roots love to stretch.
More space, more freedom. Vines, fruit trees, whole rows of vegetables—go wild.
Cheaper to start. Nature already gave you the container.
A deeper connection to the land. There’s something grounding (literally and emotionally) about it.
Why it’s not always ideal:
If your soil isn’t great, neither will your garden be.
Harder for beginners. You need to amend soil, understand drainage, and fight more pests.
Requires actual land. Not an option for most city dwellers.
SO… WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU START WITH?
Here’s my simple rule:
If you’re new to gardening, short on space, or want something tidy and manageable: go with raised beds. (this is what I did)
If you have land, patience, and want to grow big yields: try in-ground gardening.
If you’re ambitious and love options: do both.
No matter where you live—Beverly Hills, New York, Seoul, London, or a tiny apartment in Hong Kong—gardening is less about the method and more about the mindset.
It’s about slowing down.
Noticing things.
Letting beauty happen in its own time.
And feeling that small spark of pride the moment you see the first true leaf push through the soil.