When Anthony lost his job back in 2008 (two weeks before we got married)
it began a new season in our lives: a season of renting
instead of (or should I say in addition to) being homeowners.
We lived in a little sweet Craftsman in Petaluma
and then fate took another turn, directing us south to the Peninsula.
Nothing looked good to me, oh how we looked.
Then one day a listing popped up for San Jose, further south than we'd hoped to go but promising.
Within a minute of touring the house we currently live in we were
crossing our fingers that we'd be living here.
And so it came to pass
and here we are, four years later
in this cottage.
Every summer I've mooned over the idea of a garden, how lovely it would
be to grow my own veggies
and then the weeks flew into months
and heaven knows I love flirting with my silver-fox-tomato guy at the farmer's market...
So it's not happened
.
This year I feel impassioned. I shared that passion with Anthony and he just got on board in the most wonderful of ways.
We spent a lot of time this weekend digging with a child-sized hoe and
a big red shovel,
blisters on our hands and clean sweat on our brows
with Orion wandering around the yard
mimicking Daddy's movements
and looking for things to water
with his Dora can.
At first we thought we'd go with raised beds but it's just easier to make a big
rectangle on the ground
and use the semi-shaded raised planters that frame the yard on two sides.
Anthony ripped out the thorniest old dead things you ever did see from a big planter
and we rejoiced at the space that made, the healthy things that will grow there.
.
We'll have little gems lettuce, beets both golden and red, onions, beans, sugar snap peas, three kinds of heirloom tomatoes, two kinds of cukes, sweet musk melons, white strawberries, eggplants, brussels sprouts, rainbow chard, curly kale, tete noir cabbage, marconi peppers and Thai holy basil.
Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise we'll have all of those things.
At the very least we'll have the adventure of growing
and a way to show Orion the season of summer
that will reinforce all of those 'oh!!'s and wonder that surround him
like a halo.
What's your best gardening story, friends?
What's worked, what's not worked
and what would/do you grow?
xoxoxox,
Sunny
6 comments:
On a day like today, your words are better than the sigh after that first sip of tea.
refreshing.
xoxo
I absolutely love everything about this post! As a time-deprived yet eager backyard gardener who has gone both the from seed and seedling route, I can tell you that radishes, greens (kale, spinach, red leaf lettuce, you name it!), green beans, and zucchini are the cheer-leading squad of crops...they offer reassurance and support when you have decided you are doing absolutely everything wrong, and they remind you that nature really is awe-inspiring. That being said, if you have the time, space, and commitment to start peppers and tomatoes indoors, do so!!! Nothing inspires a smile like a juicy August tomato that you grew from the very beginning YOURSELF! And if you find yourself yearning for more gardening adventures come October...plant garlic! Once it is in the ground, you simply have to wait for spring for the teeny sprouts to pop up! It's so incredibly exciting (and yes, I am a HUGE nerd)!! Sending green thumb thoughts your way...happily anticipating what your growing season creates :)
Adore you Cat. Xoxo
M, I will think of you so much when the first tomato comes ripe. :) xoxo
It's been awhile since I've checked in here, and I can't believe how Orion has grown! As quickly as your veggies :)
As much as I hate to do it, thinning your beets and radishes and carrots is shockingly necessary . . .
Have so much fun with this garden! I can't plant anything for at least a month, but I'm wild to start on my own.
xx Lizzie
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