Cassie Thornhill

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since Jan 20, 2025
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Biography
Hi there! I’m Cassie. By day, I’m a teacher, but in my free time, I’m deep into gardening, experimenting with permaculture, and looking for ways to live more sustainably. My garden is my happy place, where I get to grow food, compost, and try out eco-friendly projects. I’m always learning new things and love to share what I’ve found works (and what doesn’t!).
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Recent posts by Cassie Thornhill

Hey everyone! I wanted to share my thoughts on an app I’ve been using for a while now—PlantIn. I’ve seen plenty of discussions here about plant identification and care, and since I’ve been using this app to help with both, I figured I’d post about my experience with it.

I originally downloaded it because I needed a better way to keep track of both my houseplants and my outdoor garden. I have a lot of plants in different spots—some in the living room, some in the kitchen, and, of course, the ones outside. But I ended up using the identification feature just as much. I usually try to ID stuff myself, but it’s been nice to have a quick way to figure out what’s what.

One thing I really appreciate is that the app lets you organize plants into different spaces, so everything isn’t just in one big list. It doesn’t change how reminders work (you still get notifications for all your plants), but it’s nice to have everything sorted when I’m checking on a specific area.

What I like about it:
  • Easy to keep track of plants. The “spaces” feature makes it easy to stay organized. I have one for my indoor plants and another for my outdoor garden, which helps when I’m trying to remember what needs attention.
  • Customizable care reminders. You set them up yourself, which I actually prefer. I don’t love it when apps assume they know my plants better than I do.
  • Pest & disease diagnosis. It doesn’t replace hands-on experience, but it’s a good starting point.
  • The water calculator feature. If you’re unsure about watering, the app suggests how much based on pot size, soil, lighting, and temperature. From there, it can recommend a schedule, but you’re free to tweak it.
  • The plant ID works well. No such app is perfect, but PlantIn has been pretty accurate for me, or at least close enough that I can figure it out.
  • It’s simple and intuitive. Some plant apps can feel cluttered, but this one is pretty easy to navigate.


  • A few downsides:
  • Some features require a paid subscription. The free version has limitations, and you’ll see pop-ups for the paid plan, but you can still use the basic features without paying.
  • Not always perfect. The plant ID tool can sometimes be a little off, but it’s usually close enough to figure out the right plant.


  • Overall, I’ve really enjoyed using PlantIn to keep my plants organized and stay on top of their care. And I love that I can set my own plant care reminders instead of using the basic ones. After using it for a couple of months, I’d say it’s an excellent app for anyone who needs a little help keeping their plant care organized and consistent.

    I actually came across an article the other day about plant care apps and what makes some work better than others. It talked about how good design can make or break an app, and PlantIn was mentioned as an example of one that gets it right. Thought it was an interesting read—here’s the link if anyone’s curious: https://dev.to/emmaexplores/why-even-the-best-plant-care-app-fails-without-a-thoughtful-uiux-5725.

    Has anyone else tried it? I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you’re on the fence, there’s a more in-depth review here: PlantIn App Review. And you can check out the app itself here: PlantIn.
    5 months ago
    Woke up early today, no alarm blaring, just the soft morning light coming through the window. Took my time making coffee, almost like I had nowhere to be. Ended up sitting by the window just watching the world wake up.

    It's moments like this that remind me to appreciate the quiet things. Grateful for the peace, even if it's just for a few minutes.
    6 months ago
    Hey everyone,

    I just wanted to pop back in with an update since it’s been a couple of weeks. First, thank you all for the helpful advice, book recommendations, and encouragement—so much good info to sift through!

    We’ve been making a lot of small changes, and while it’s definitely been an adjustment period, it’s getting easier. My mom is testing regularly, and we’re starting to see what works for her and what doesn’t. Some wins so far:

    1. Swapping in more fiber and protein. She’s really enjoying oatmeal with flax and chia in the mornings instead of toast.
    2. Rethinking carbs. Parboiled rice and roasted sweet potatoes are working well as better options. We’re experimenting with resistant starch too.
    3. Cutting way back on sugar. It’s wild how fast taste buds adjust! Even her coffee is unsweetened now, and she doesn’t miss it.
    4. More movement! She’s making a habit of walking after meals, and that seems to help stabilize her levels.

    We’re still figuring out go-to meals and how to make things feel “normal” while keeping everything balanced. If anyone has favorite recipes that don’t feel like “diet food” but work well for blood sugar control, I’d love to hear them! Also, any insights on handling cravings while transitioning to lower-carb eating? That’s been one of the tougher parts.

    Again, thanks for all the input—this community is awesome!
    6 months ago
    Hey everyone,

    My mom was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, so we’re trying to figure out this new way of eating. It’s been a bit of an adjustment—rethinking meals, cutting back on certain things, and making sure everything is still tasty.

    We’re focusing more on whole foods, balancing carbs, and swapping out ingredients (goodbye, white flour and sugar 😅). If anyone has go-to meals or tips for making diabetes-friendly food without losing the joy of eating, I’d love to hear them!
    7 months ago
    Oh, this is a tough one! If I had to pick just one must-have plant, it’d be garlic. It’s ridiculously easy to grow, doesn’t take up much space, and is basically a staple in my kitchen. Plus, homegrown garlic has way more flavor than store-bought, and I love experimenting with different varieties.

    And if I could grow anything? Citrus trees, no question. I’d love to walk outside and pick fresh lemons or oranges, but our winters would have something to say about that. Maybe one day I’ll get a nice greenhouse going!
    7 months ago
    If procrastination paid, I'd be tenured by now
    7 months ago

    Lina Joana wrote:

    Cassie Thornhill wrote:
    3. Upcycled crafts: We’ve started a “crafting with scraps” project, where we use leftover materials like cardboard, fabric, and glass jars for DIY projects. It’s been a fun way to make use of things that would otherwise be thrown out.



    Possible downside: some kids start seeing the craft potential in EVERYTHING, and end up with piles of bottles, cardboard, twist ties, you name it. More than they could ever use. Down that path madness lies….



    Haha, yes! It’s like they start seeing craft potential in absolutely everything—our recycling bin is now a “treasure chest” and I’m just waiting for them to start asking if they can upcycle the furniture next!
    7 months ago

    Kate Downham wrote:
    • Making pasta from scratch. We don’t have a pasta machine, so we roll it out and cut it by hand, and my children enjoy doing this.

    • Bread from scratch, and pretty much everything from scratch in the kitchen they enjoy helping with. With several people eating, it’s easy to see just how much plastic we are saving by making things ourselves rather than buying them. It could be an interesting project to figure out just how much plastic is being saved - if the family goes through a few loaves of bread and a couple of packets of crackers/cookies/etc every week, that adds up to a lot of packaging.



    I love this, Kate! Making pasta by hand sounds like such a fun family activity, and I bet it’s nice to see how much plastic you’re cutting down on too. We’ve been getting into making bread from scratch as well, and it’s such a win-win. Thanks for sharing these ideas!
    7 months ago
    Thank you for sharing this. I lost my grandma to suicide when I was 16, and it was such a confusing, heavy time. For years, I blamed myself for not noticing signs or being more attentive, and I didn’t know how to process grief at all. What you said about people not knowing how to support someone grieving really hit home. I’ve had people say things that, while well-meaning, made me feel even more alone. I’ve since learned how important it is just to be present and hold space for someone’s pain without trying to fix it.

    Thank you for bringing this conversation here. It’s such an important topic, and your post is a reminder of how much community matters during tough times. <3
    7 months ago