Although planting a garden is something I have always wanted to do, when I read the ecoholic issue of NOW in March, I decided this was the summer I was going to try to grow some food! I am not known to be able to keep plants alive, so I am taking baby steps. I decided to grow heirloom green beans, beefsteak tomatoes, red leaf lettuce and herbs (thyme, tarragon, parsely, and rosemary). My backyard is a mess, half haphazard concrete driveway and half jungle like forest. I decided to go with the planting in pots option because I'm not sure about the quality or safety of the soil.
I've started the beans from seeds, and I was just about to give up and throw the little containers away when I saw a little green poking through. I was so excited, I'd grown something!! Here they are on my kitchen wildonw sill,it is the warmest and brightest place I have to offer them.
The other plants I bought as seedlings, and over the May 2-4 planted them in pots in the yard. I built a fence out of a coil of fencing? I found in the jungle, to protect them from the raccoons I share the yard with. Remembering farmer Joel Salatins chicken coop on wheels (read Omnivores Dilemma, learn about Joels sustainable farming online), I grabbed an easy pour carton -- like milk, of hen manure when in the garden centre and confidently took it to the cash register. Thinking, 'I may know something about this after all'.
When you love food as much as I do, it makes sense to grow it. If it works out this summer and I can reach my goal of growing a salad, I may just think about taking bigger steps next summer. Until then I'll be dreaming big Micheal Stadtlander-esq dreams. You know, the chef-farmer-gourmet guru, who's farm house restaurant near Collingwood is rated 9th in the world? A girl has got to dream! and eat! time for lunch...
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