I grew up learning how to grow food in our backyard. We had a little patch of earth that wasn’t growing grass which we used to grow tomatoes, beans and herbs.
I loved being outside with my parents in the garden when I was young. Seeing and touching the plants, discovering flavours and learning about how to grow food.
Growing food has always been important to me and I think it is something that should be important to everyone.
I help grow a garden every year and usually try to grow something new every time to find out what works well and what doesn’t. This year, I’ve moved and begun to start growing things on my patio. I don’t have a lot of room, but I have soil and pots and it is starting to happen.
Growing food brings people together. You can often find people who you work or live with who are interested in gardening. They are always willing to share pointers or little bits of plants to help you with your gardening journey.
The other day at work, I was talking to one of the other chefs who have been there for over 10 years. She mentioned she liked gardening and I did too, so we started talking about what we both were growing this year. I mentioned that I would like to grow Swiss chard, but haven’t found any seeds as of yet. She mentioned that she had some seeds and gave me some little seedlings to grow in my garden a couple days later.
This is just an example of how growing food brings people together and gets them involved. It’s easy to see commonality when you bond over something you grow. There really is nothing better than planting something, watching it grow and eating the food that comes from it.
This year, I’ve been lucky because I have some space to grow some vegetables and herbs. My landlord also loves gardening and growing food, so she left some space for me to grow some plants in the garden. She also offered her herbs that were already growing for us to use to cook with. It’s nice to offer some space. It makes you feel a bit more welcome, like you’re at home.
My patio is now looking a little bit crowded with all the plants, but they are doing so well. I am really looking forward to eating the food that grows.
Making your outdoor space you own makes you feel good. Your outdoor space is almost like another room in your house or another place for us to relax in. Somehow I enjoy relaxing next to plants that are growing.
Use whatever space you have to grow something. It can save you some money at the store and create better air quality in your space. You can even save you recycling and grow some stuff in those containers!
I mean why would you plant flowers, when you can plant something that will give back to you? Your money can only go so far, so why not spend it on a tomato plant instead of some flowers.
we're loving having a plot in the Pender Island Community Garden - you've seen the photos on FB - along with the garden here at the house, we've got several kinds of beans, chard, kale, parsnips, tomatoes, squash, peas, lettuce, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, onions and an artichoke - I've already made a few salads from the delicious butter lettuce. I'm glad you have some space to grow things - hope all is well with you - xoxoxo