A few things worth saying out loud.

This blog is one person — me, Mitch — sitting in a yard, figuring things out, and writing about it. That’s it. It is not therapy. It is not a substitute for therapy. It is not medical advice, clinical guidance, or a crisis intervention service. I am not a licensed anything. I am a man with a garden and a lot of feelings about tomatoes.

If you are struggling — really struggling, the kind where it’s hard to see the next hour let alone the next day — please reach out to someone who is actually qualified to help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Call or text 988 from anywhere in the US. Real people, real help, no judgment.

What happens here is honest conversation. It might help. I genuinely hope it does. But it is not a replacement for professional support, and I never want anyone to treat it as one.

Take care of yourself first. The garden will still be here.

— Mitch