Ever since I can remember, my parents had a vegetable garden. A big one. My dad grew almost everything he could that suited our climate: peas, green beans, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, onions, lettuce, corn, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, blueberries, strawberries, potatoes, and of course, the raspberries that grow like weeds here.
Did we live on a farm? Nope. Just a house in the suburbs with a regular size lot and a big deck. My mom froze and canned all summer and it was years before I actually tasted a frozen pea that wasn’t home grown. And then suddenly, I understood why other kids hated vegetables. It was nasty.
My parents were doing the “buy locally” thing long before it was popular – going out to the Fraser Valley to the local farms for veggies they didn’t grow and buying a side of beef and freezing it.
That was all a long time ago and these days, my dad lives with me and he still gardens. He has tomato plants in pots on the upstairs and downstairs decks, potatoes growing out of pots in the shade of the lower deck, a little salad garden by the back door with different varieties of lettuce and green onions, chives, and cherry tomatoes. He has scarlet runner beans climbing the side fence mixed in with my wall of sweet peas and more tomatoes growing in amongst my giant marigolds. And out back he still has his peas and beans and ground crawlers like squash, zucchinis and cukes.
On my deck outside the kitchen, I have a little herb garden with mint, cilantro, oregano, thyme etc. Fresh and ready to snip with a pair of scissors when I want some for dinner.
A few blocks away, the city just started a new community garden with about 20 10×10 plots… it filled up instantly and there’s now a waiting list.
Fresh can’t be beat. The flavour, the crispness, the warmth. A vine ripened tomato still warm from the sun and smelling like a tomato. I used to eat them like apples. Ok, I still eat them like apples… hehe.
The Plant One Challenge
This weekend my design company launched a site refresh for a client and friend in Ontario, just outside of Toronto. It’s mainly a blog, chronicling his steps towards living a more sustainable life in an urban setting, including embracing urban agriculture. I believe so much in what he is trying to do that I wanted to share his “Plant One” Challenge with all of you.
The Challenge? To plant one vegetable. Just one. In your backyard, on your deck, in a pot or planter or in little plot of land. If you already do have a garden of some fashion, plant one new variety. I think it’s a wonderful idea and I hope you will all go visit him at SustainMe and check it out and join in. I know he’d love to hear from you and your progress.
My selection this year is basil. It’s difficult to grow outdoors here but I’m going to give it a go because I love it so much. And also dill, which grows like a weed. hehe.
So go ahead – Join The Challenge!
Oh my. You are early…. first I need more warmth and more light! 🙂
But I totally support the movement! (And I will so plant tomatoes again)
you will have to tell him! and I remember all your tomatoes last year!
hey, basil isn’t a vegetable 😉 I think it’s so great that your father keeps you stocked with tomatoes. How wonderful! They will go great with the basil. I’ve been telling my mom for a few years now to try and grow everything she would need b/c ag/fruit prices keep going up up up. Not just that, I like the idea of being a self sustaining organization. I get a kick out of living simply, and I get immense pleasure from just sitting outside in the sun and picking weeds!! haha.
thanks for sharing this, I’m heading over to that site now. cheers.
lol, I know, I know. I’m the flower girl not the veggie girl but I do love my herbs. My dad is pretty protective of his veggie garden. But yes, veggies do not need to be expensive – buying locally, growing your own, eating with the seasons have so many benefits but it takes a bit more effort! I think it’s worth it. Dirt, water, and seeds are cheap! And I find pulling weeds a good way to relieve stress!
Really stunning photos, especially the one of the peas! Beautiful.
Thanks Sylvie! That means a lot coming from you 🙂
These photos are AWESOME! And I love that you are pubbing the challenge! I volunteer for a community garden here in NC and it’s truly an amazing experience (especially for someone who grew up in a concrete jungle inner city like myself). Great post! 😀
That’s so cool that you do that! I hope you get a little plot for yourself as well 🙂
Your pictures are stunning. Wait here again STUNNING. I want to steal ur talent 🙂 or may be you could just teach me?
are you kidding me?! yours are gorgeous! I think you should teach ME a few things! 🙂