Come Into the Garden

When I was little in the 1970s, my favorite Sesame Street song was the one called "Come Into the Garden" about the hippie family growing their own food in the early month of May. My parents had a pretty kick bones garden in Iowa where I grew up. I have fond memories of dusting off sugar snap peas and raspberries and popping them in my mouth off the vine. We were constantly eating our harvest, whether it be mom's salsa made from home grown tomatoes, her rhubarb squares or zucchini bread. (P.S. Why is "harvest" such a dorky word? I like it!) Hence, gardening is in my blood. I love the idea of teaching Noah and JM that food doesn't come from HEB alone.

I wanted to start my own garden, but had no idea how to do one in Texas. Oh, and I have pretty much killed any porch plant we've invested in the past few years. Even basil. Enter Bohemian Bounty. My mom read about them in the paper a few months ago and thought of me when reading about their organic "gardening for dummies" philosophy. I concurred that it was something the non-greened thumbed me should investigate, so they came and interviewed me about fruits and veggies we'd like to grow, came up with a design plan and installed two beds for us with rich soil. Today they came and delivered my fall and winter plants, both seeds and starter plants and I planted them. I am proud to announce that this winter we are growing:
Spinach
Leaf Lettuce
Carrots
Collard Greens
Swiss Chard
Brussels Sprouts
Italian Parsley
Garlic Chives
Broccoli

Yes, Noah's first veggies could be my home-grown carrots! I have such hope for these little plants. I pray that I don't kill them. All I have to do is water them every day. Shouldn't be that hard, right? I'd write more, but life as a gardener is already hard work. Bella the dog decided she liked laying in my freshly planted garden and almost trampled my little seedlings, requiring me, exhausted mother of two little ones who are both giving me trouble with sleep lately, to go to the hardware store and get chicken wire and stakes to make a fence, which cut up my hands and took all of my remaining energy! It felt good, though!