Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does the name ‘garden grub’ mean?

It’s quite simple! The ‘garden’ signifies everything on this blog being vegan since all vegan food is made from plants. The slang term ‘grub’ represents delicious, comforting food. Yes, the term ‘grub’ does also have the definition meaning insects, but that is definitely not the way I am using it, haha.

Is your real name Summer Storm?

Yes! It is! My first name is Summer, and my middle name is Storm. And I finally LOVE it! (I didn’t love it very much when I was younger because I got bullied for it since it was a bit of a different name for back then. Ugh.) Read more about my personal story and vegan journey here!

How can I work with garden grub?

If you’re a vegan-friendly food brand, a kitchenware manufacturer, or have a product that lays somewhere in between, I would be more than happy to test it out. I’m always open to sharing a product with my followers, as long as I absolutely love it. I will not promote something I don’t 100% stand by, and I can’t guarantee anything before being sent any products. If you’re interested in a collab with garden grub, please email [email protected] and send your proposal.

Where do you live?

I live in Northern Florida. Where exactly? Welllll, now that’s just a little too personal!

How long have you been vegan?

I have been vegan for around five years. I don’t have an exact anniversary date, unfortunately, but it was sometime in early 2016.

How did you go vegan?

1. I researched a lot! I always prefer to watch YouTube videos and documentaries because I am a very visual person. The top two videos that helped me go vegan the most are Earthlings and 101 Reasons to Go Vegan. They are both free to watch on Youtube!
2.  I took it slow! I don’t think I could have gone vegan overnight, as it would have been way too overwhelming for me.

• First, I went pescatarian for a couple of weeks, and then shortly after, I went vegetarian.
• Second, I completely cut out all visible dairy and eggs but still ate foods that had them hidden—for example, cookies. Cookies usually have eggs, butter, and sometimes milk. Those ingredients are invisible, and I would still eat foods, like the cookies, now and then.
• Third, I cut out any foods that contained ‘sugar’ as many sugar companies filter it through animal bone char, which is made from bones of slaughtered cattle. All organic sugar, beet sugar, coconut sugar, and unrefined sugar are safe to eat.
• Around this time, I also checked if the wine, beer, or liquor I was going to drink is vegan. Sometimes, these products are filtered through isinglass (a substance obtained from fish bladders), egg whites, gelatine, seashells, and other animal products that help with filtering. Read more about that here. Barnivore is my go-to source for checking if wine, beer, or liquor is vegan friendly.
• Lastly, I made sure that any products I purchased, such as shampoo and conditioner, laundry soap, toothpaste, etc., were cruelty-free and vegan.

What was your most challenging thing to give up when going vegan?

Cheese. Haha. But, isn’t that everyones!? Listen… I grew up in Wisconsin, AKA, the dairy state, AKA I ate a lot of cheese back then. And, when I first went vegan, there were very few vegan cheeses out there. The couple that there was were not good at all! Fast forward to 2020, though, and I think you can barely tell that vegan cheese is vegan. Hallelujah for that!

Why is there no nutritional information listed with your recipes?

That answer is pretty simple. My recipes’ nutritional information isn’t something that mainly concerns me, nor do I have the proper knowledge to provide you with accurate information.

What are your essential kitchen appliances and tools?

• My number one essential kitchen appliance is 100% a classic Vitamix. I WISH I would have gotten one way sooner than I did. It is worth every penny, I promise.
• A classic KitchenAid standing mixer. It is perfect for making doughs, cookies, whipped cream, etc. It saves a lot of time and effort!
• Not quite an essential, but worth it, is an air fryer. I have the Kalorik MAXX Air Fryer Oven Grill, and I use it at least once almost every day! It’s seriously the BEST and worth every penny!
• A cast-iron skillet has quickly become a massive favorite of mine. It’s non-stick, heats up perfectly even, and you can pop it straight into the oven to finish baking off whatever you prepared. It’s a huge game-changer!
• Also, a HUGE game-changer is a rubber spatula! It’s what all restaurants use to save “a million bucks.” It will help you scrape out every last bit of food from bowls, blenders, etc. It’s a must in the kitchen, and I swear by it! The one I have linked is not the same one that restaurants use, as you can only purchase those through a restaurant supply store, but this one will work great, too!

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