My thumb is black as night.
(Photo credit: Natalie Dee)
And, hysterically, I married a farmer. Plants, trees, irrigation, pest control, etc…he lives and breathes it. For the past three years I have planted a pathetic patch of vegetables, only to have the majority of the seeds never germinate, and then the few that had the gall to break ground got swallowed by the weeds I neglected to pull. Last year I didn’t even bother since I was 89 months pregnant and we were in the middle of renovations. This year, I am wondering whether I should take the plunge again and try to grow some food.
I love the idea of gardening: wearing a wide-brimmed hat, children gaily playing around me as my hands work the earth, pulling forth a carrot, dark with rich soil that I half-shake off and take a crunchy bite of as the sun shines down on me. But I know my tendencies, and the realities they bring forth:
I forget to water things. Then the weeds come. The end.
Part of me feels like it’s such an essential part of life, growing food and understanding all it takes to get it to our plates. And then there’s the greatness of eating locally, teaching our kids about sustainability, and knowing our veggies are free from pesticides. Eating in season is delicious and when the food comes from your own garden, I imagine it’s even better.
But the other part of me knows that if I’m not whole-heartedly committed to it, I had better not even try. There’s always the farmers’ market, right?
What say you? Do you believe that gardening is too important too forego? What is your garden like? Does it get bigger and grander every year? Or are you a repeat failure such as myself? Any tips for someone who is on the fence about whether they should try it or not?
OK, I’m with you. I actually LOVE the idea of gardening. And i actually LOVE getting it going, seeing the plants sprout, working the ground in the spring, etc. It is when (i live in Georgia) the temps hit the 90s for weeks straight, i have cucumbers and zucchini coming out of my ears, and weeds EVERYWHERE – that i 2nd guess the whole gardening thing. I think next year i’m going to do a very small raised bed, only do a few plants, and buy the rest in season. it was hard last year when i was laboring over my squash to go to the grocery store and see i could get 5 for $1 – i could have easily stocked up, froze some, and not spent hours in the yard. Yes i enjoy it. but not that much. maybe once i’m a grandma……….
The deer eat everything, so I don’t bother. But I will one day when we move.
I love my little city garden plot.
Easiest start, plant about 7 rows of carrots. Nice wide rows so that you can just hoe it now and again. Thin them out once or twice when they start getting too thick (so like pick out every 6th one…duh).
When they are done in the fall. Wash the mud off, stick them in a veggie bag in the bottom of your fridge and you’ll have them until Christmas. Best ever! SO easy.
Then, if you have success this year, add something next.
I do zucchini (but just 2 seeds, seriously), spinach (it grows fast and furious so not too much) and my potatoes always get bugs. So I’ve given up on the potato.
I say go for it!
As of now, my garden consists of 5 or 6 small pots in the window sills of my kitchen and dining areas. This is where me and my daughter “start” our seedlings….we just haven’t ever seen anything get past this point…YET! Since I’m off in the summers, one of my goals THIS summer is to build and plant a raised vegetable bed and possible one for herbs 🙂 We shall see…I am determined, but my thumb is also black as coal!
Well, you know that I love my garden, but I don’t think that you should bother if it is just going to be another chore that you have to deal with. Your life doesn’t need any extra stress added to it!
That said, berry bushes (raspberry, blackberry, blueberry etc.) are easy to care for. Just make sure you have planted them in a spot that is appropriate to their needs and that you control the weeds right around their roots and they will reward you with lovely berries every year with very minimal effort from you. You have to water them regularly but you can always consider planting them where an orchard sprinkler will hit them every couple of days.
we have a plot at my parents’ place and it’s so gratifying having all this food that we helped make. i feel it’s really important for the girls as well. even if it’s something as simple as growing a single herb in a pot…it all counts towards helping our kids realize that food just doesn’t show up!
i’m a “pickler” so i have jars of green tomato chow, jalepenos and this year i’m going to do dill pickles. yay!
I find gardening nourishes my soul. It’s rewarding to see something grow, and to taste the fruits of the labour. I love being outside. I love how the earth smells. I love noticing the little changes from week to week or day to day. I like how my food tastes better. That said, I’ve never had a big garden. I don’t have kids who need me more than I need me.
Might I suggest a small herb garden on a patio? Minimal care (just watering), no weeding, quick growing and meals that taste a hundred times better because you had fresh (FREE!) herbs. Buy little starter plants, sunny spot, water, and you can’t go wrong.
All that work and then it will freeze or get hailed out just before harvest, a recipe for stress I don’t need. Just have enough flowers to prove it’s summer and support the farmers market. Tried the mascara you recommended, and it does make even my 4 short lashes visible, thanks for the tip.
I believe curse words were originated in a garden. “Stupid, bloody, weeds! Oh F@^# the spade goes in the soil, not my foot!” Or something like that. I loath dirt under my fingernails, I cringe at the idea of having to pull weeds or water something. I’d rather let some other clinically insane person do the work, I’ll pay them a few bucks and tada – flowers! Unfortnately I don’t want our home to look homely so I do the garden, and practice using my nice words. In front of my children that is.
I’ve become a minimalist with my garden.
The flowers – annuals: petunias and alyssum. Perennial – my beautiful clematis.
Planted in the right spot – they take care of themselves.
My vegetable garden – I was overrun with zucchini, green beans and beets last year. Again – planted in the right place – they took care of themselves. My carrots, peppers and lettuce didn’t take at all. I blame the garden rabbits.
I have every intention and all the motivation to begin with and it slowly fades and the weeds come and that job just becomes too much.