Welcome to Shovel and Crunch!

Here, I share my passion for heirloom gardening and enchanting vegan cooking from around the world— with fresh, intriguing flavors, warm storytelling, and recipes you’ll be excited to make. I believe that beautiful, nourishing food starts with the seeds we plant, the soil we nurture, and the love we bring to every dish. And in sharing our love of food and gardening with friends around the globe.

🌱 What you’ll find here:

• Vegan recipes rooted in tradition and real flavor

• Heirloom gardening inspiration from my home garden, using regenerative agriculture and permaculture techniques

• Seasonal cooking, honest experiments, and joyful discoveries

• Taste tests, behind-the-scenes projects, and (plenty of) laughter along the way

🌻 Subscribe for free to get all new posts sent straight to your inbox. Or just come wander through the garden and kitchen with me any time. You're always welcome here!

(It's free! And if someday I offer paid options like bonus recipes or special garden guides, it will always be optional and only if it feels like a good fit for you.)

A little about me

I'm Shell — a passionate home gardener, plant-based cook, and lover of rare heirloom herbs, veggies, flowers, and fruit- grown regeneratively and with love. I’m also an advanced master gardener, former engineer, and mom of 5.

I believe that recipes and gardens are best when they’re shared, and that flavor is always worth chasing.

When I'm not tending my heirloom plants or testing a new dish for the millionth time, you'll probably find me in international grocery stores, doing yoga or indoor rowing, reading, or hanging out with my husband, 5 kids, 2 cats we rescued in Shanghai, and 2 Bernese mountain dogs. And I’m always up for a great belly laugh with friends!

Thank you so much for being here. I’m so excited to share this journey with you! 🌼