Healthy Flavorful Eating
Remember how good a fresh tomato used to taste? The rich red color, the snap of the skin as you bit into it, the juice exploding in your mouth? It’s hard to find a tomato like that in the grocery store these days. That is why many of us are returning to the garden where we can grow our own fresh produce. A garden yields much more than tomatoes, squash, corn, and cucumbers. It’s a special place where you can revive your spirits, get some exercise, and share activities with family members and friends. The biggest payoff is that you can eat healthy food on a reduced budget.
One my earliest childhood memories is following my dad around our backyard garden as he plunged a hoe handle into the soil, leaving a neat row of holes. My job was to drop two butterbean seeds into each hole. I loved the musty scent of the warm earth, the sun reflecting off the morning dew and the occasional worm that would scramble for cover as my dad turned the soil. Most of all, I loved the anticipation of seeing that first little bean shoot poking through the dirt, knowing that I had planted the seed. Today I don’t have the luxury of a large backyard garden but I do have a tomato plant tucked into my flowerbed between the lilies and the hostas.
If the idea of going out into your yard to pick an armful of fresh vegetables appeals to you, then plant a garden filled with your favorite foods. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Tailor the size of your garden to the available space.
If you have a small space, plant a few vegetables in a large container or a spare corner of the yard.
- Think about the amount of time you have to devote to its upkeep.
If you only have a few spare hours in the evenings and weekends, then opt for a small square foot garden.
- Consider your physical limitations.
Perhaps you aren’t as agile as you used to be and bending is difficult. You can still raise healthy fruits and vegetables in a planter raised to a level comfortable for you.
All you really need to grow fresh produce is a little soil, some sunshine, a sprinkling of water, and a caring touch.