Harvesting Memories.

So, how does your garden grow? …or do you even have one? If you do, you will appreciate this post. If you don’t, then I must encourage you to start a garden. …floral or vegetable, doesn't matter.  They are both so rewarding.   Digging in the dirt is the most spiritually satisfying activity I've found that I can do on my own time and in my own way.

My dad had a garden when we were growing up. I remember very vividly sitting out under one of the big oaks in our back yard and having to shell purple hull peas.  My fingers were purple all summer long.  I couldn’t seem to get that purple stain off of my fingers.  It wasn’t anything that I loved doing but it was one of those chores that my Mom had us do if we wanted to go fishing or swimming.  She was always good about canning all the veggies my dad could produce in his garden.  We had canned tomatoes in the winter for our soups and she would make the best creamed corn. 

The best part of summer when I was growing up was the fresh meals that came out of the garden.  I can remember watching the tomatoes ripen on the vine and when they started to turn, I would watch for the special one and when it looked like it was ready to pick, I would take the salt shaker out to the garden and sit down between the rows and eat it right off the vine. It was soooooo good! I can almost taste it now.  Kids these days have no idea what a real tomato tastes like. 

Today I went to the opening of the Farmers Market at the Farm. It was kind of early for any veggies but they managed to get hooked up with some area growers who are serious about growing for the public…thank goodness.  Bob Evans of Cotton Valley is one of our growers and he managed to have the biggest and prettiest heads of cabbage today.  Freshly dug red potatoes and freshly picked broccoli were for sale today at the market and I was so proud to get there early enough to get some. I got home with my bounty, put on some music, turned our old oscillating fan on and began to dance while cleaning my veggies. It brought back such great memories.

I also brought home some new plants that I bought from Molly. She’s a local horticulturalist who has managed to get her children excited about the earth and gardening and their family was out at the market selling plants, eggs and handmade flowers out of recycled tin cans.  I had to buy one of almost everything, of course.

So, today was a great day and I can’t wait to plant my new plants, eat my new potatoes while patiently waiting for the tomatoes to start making.  Fresh vegetables are a rare treat these days especially those that are grown by the hands of backyard gardeners who learned the art of gardening from their parents and grandparents.   We need more gardeners and more farmers.   Consider being one or at least supporting the ones that live in your community.  Go gardening! Go green! …or Go buy!