The Running Garlic
Dedicated to a healthy lifestyle
Grow a Garden
Gardening is Glamorous!
Digging in the dirt and pulling weed after weed doesn't qualify as glamorous for most. But when all the hard work and dirt is washed aside and you sit down to a meal you grew yourself and truly "taste" what you are eating ... that's what I call glamorous! When you share what you grew with others, when you preserve your bounty and eat garden produce all winter long, when you create new recipes using fresh herbs from your own garden ...
Now that's Glamorous!
A lot of people claim they have a black thumb and may be scared off of gardening because it doesn't always work as it's suppose to. I have learned one of the basics of gardening is to "just keep practicing". I have lost many a crop due to weather or my lack of care or bugs infesting my whole crop of zucchini, corn, beans, etc. It happens and will continue to happen ... I just keep trying!
The whole process of gardening is a wonder and one our ancestors survived on - something we need to bring back to reality and teach our own children once again.
Your soil is the core to a great garden and maintaining a compost bin or area is essential in arriving at good soil which will nurture your plants throughout the season. Start saving kitchen scraps (no meats or oil products such as butter or grease); save leaves and grass clippings and start a pile out in the yard. Turn the pile periodically and you will be amazed at the wonderful compost you create.
If you are new to gardening there are a few basic plants you should start with. They are easier to grow and will give you the confidence that you can grow your own food and the encouragement to try other plants. You can start from seed 6-8 weeks before your last frost or you can purchase plants which have been started at your local nursery.
Tomato Peppers Cucumbers Zucchini Marigolds Zinnia Basil Mints (in containers)
Heirlooms - A term you will encounter in your gardening adventures and one that merits special attention and action. Heirloom plants and seeds represent our gardening past - seeds our ancestors planted, saved and handed down from generation to generation. These seeds were the core of survival and it is our responsibility to carry on the tradition of our forefathers by keeping heirloom seeds alive and far from extinction. Over the years many have disappeared and are gone forever. The seeds are easy to find, purchase and plant in your garden. Seed Savers Exchange is an organization dedicated to preserving our heritage for future generations and they have a full catalog of seeds. Bakers Creek also publishes a fantastic selection of many unique and quality heirloom seeds. Heirloom seeds produce flavor that is outstanding and many are highly disease resistant. Plant a Cherokee Purple or Brandywine tomato and experience the taste yourself, then
....Save the seeds for your future generations to enjoy!
