Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Seeds.
Sarah , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve called Orlando home for most of my life, and it’s here that my passion for food and community really took root. I’ve been a vegetarian for more than twenty years, long before plant-based eating was as mainstream as it is today. Back then, it wasn’t always easy to find the kind of meals I wanted to enjoy, nourishing, approachable, and flavorful, so I started experimenting in my own kitchen. Cooking became both a creative outlet and a way to connect with others.
When the world shut down during COVID, like so many people, I found myself cooking at home more than ever. I didn’t want to overwhelm my friends and family with daily food photos, especially since not everyone eats the way I do. So, I started a small Instagram page as a creative outlet to share my plant-based recipes. That page became Plant Based Ginger, and over time it really took off. What started as a fun quarantine project has grown into a vibrant community where I get to connect with people who share my love of plant-based food.
Today, Plant Based Ginger is both a passion project and a platform: I share recipes, resources, and consulting services to help people and restaurants embrace plant-based eating. My background in marketing and community storytelling has also shaped how I approach this work: I believe food isn’t just about what’s on the plate, but about creating connection, sparking curiosity, and celebrating the abundance we have here in Central Florida.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges in building Plant Based Ginger has been navigating the dynamics within the plant-based community itself. People come to this lifestyle for all kinds of reasons, health, ethics, flavor, curiosity, or even finances, and sometimes those differences can lead to a lot of gatekeeping or infighting. From the very beginning, I wanted to create an inclusive, welcoming space where people felt free to explore and connect without judgment. That meant setting clear boundaries for what I will and won’t allow on my platforms. I don’t tolerate hate, harassment, or bullying, and I’ve learned to be okay with losing followers if it means protecting the kindness and inclusivity of this community.
Another major challenge was stepping away when my mom’s health, who had been very sick for a long time, got really bad. I was one of her main caregivers, and when she passed, I took a long break—longer than I ever expected—from creating and sharing any content. At the time, I just didn’t have the capacity to balance caregiving, grief, and the demands of content creation. It was hard to leave without much of an explanation and even harder to come back after more than a year away. But the experience gave me perspective. It reminded me that community is about more than numbers—it’s about people showing up for each other, even in silence. When I returned, I found that the heart of my community was still there, and I came back with a clearer vision, stronger focus, and a deeper sense of purpose for where I want Plant Based Ginger to go.
In both cases, the struggles shaped me for the better. They forced me to define what really matters: kindness, connection, and building a space where anyone can feel welcome.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At my core, I’m a creative story teller. My professional background is in design, branding, and marketing, so when I launched Plant Based Ginger, I had the unique advantage of being able to build out the brand myself, from the website and social channels to the logo and photography. That creative independence is something I’m really proud of, because it’s allowed me to develop a platform that feels authentic, approachable, and true to who I am.
Through Plant Based Ginger, I share recipes, resources, and ideas that make plant-based eating feel fun and accessible. What sets me apart is the way I bring together storytelling, visual design, and community-building. Food is the focus, but connection is the goal.
One of the partnerships I’ve been most excited about recently is my work with Pulte Homes on The Grow, a new agrihood community coming to East Orlando. Because of my platform, I was invited to help launch their community cookbook initiative—a digital project designed to connect people through food. Locals can submit recipes on The Grow website for consideration, and I get the joy of testing, refining, photographing, and writing about them. It’s been such a meaningful way to showcase the flavors of Central Florida while also weaving my own plant-forward recipes into the mix.
This project really reflects what I love most about Plant Based Ginger: celebrating local ingredients, sharing stories through food, and building community, both online and around the table. And if any readers feel inspired to join in, the community cookbook is open for submissions at https://lifeatthegrow.com/cookbook. It’s a wonderful way to share your own recipes and be part of the story, plus you’ll get to work with me, and I’m a blast!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Like I was mentioning in the last question, one of the collaborations I’ve been most excited about recently is the Community Cookbook Initiative with The Grow, a new agrihood community coming to East Orlando. It’s been such a joy to help launch this project, which invites people to share recipes that highlight local flavors and connect us through food. If readers would like to collaborate in that way, they can submit a recipe at lifeatthegrow.com/cookbook, and who knows, their dish might end up being featured, tested, photographed, and shared through the project.
Beyond that, I recently launched The Greenprint, a consulting service designed for restaurants and food businesses looking to expand or enhance their plant-based offerings. After more than 20 years of eating in restaurants, I noticed that many menus missed opportunities to bring bold, creative plant-based flavors to the table. While I’m not a chef by trade, I bring the perspective of someone who lives this lifestyle daily, and I love working alongside talented professionals to help them create dishes that resonate with today’s diners.
I also partner directly with brands on creative collaborations and ingredient features, highlighting products through recipes, photography, and storytelling on my social channels and website. For me, it always comes back to the same thing: building connection through food, and showing people just how approachable and exciting plant-based living can be.
And of course, if readers want to follow along with what I’m cooking or learn more about my work, they can visit my website at https://www.plantbasedginger.com or find me on Instagram at @plant.based.ginger.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.plantbasedginger.com/
- Instagram: @plant.based.ginger
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1393650398361809
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahseeds/
- Other: https://lifeatthegrow.com/cookbook/
Image Credits
Sarah Seeds photography
