Get in the Dirt

I come from a long line of gardeners. Successful farmers, even. So, obviously, there should be some gene floating around in my DNA that intuitively knows how much water a plant needs…right?

My houseplants are laughing out loud right now.

At my house…

I might as well admit that my husband is the better gardener. Master gardeners have called him with questions about their plants, their soil, and how to store the vegetables they grow for winter. He’s not a master gardener, on paper anyway. But he has spent innumerable hours in gardens and crop fields, helping his grandparents in a garden big enough to feed many neighbors (and it did), and even more hours talking to his Granny about soil, planting “in the sign,” plant care and harvesting. He’s a bit of an expert, in my totally biased opinion.

In a time when people are wanting to grow more of their own food, I realize what a gift it is to have the knowledge passed to us from our grandparents. All of those hours in my childhood that I spent pulling potato bugs off of garden plants and picking up potatoes (as I write this I can almost feel the soft dirt between the toes of my bare feet) when it was time to harvest them are fond and cherished memories.

And I wish I had listened more carefully and filed away lots more information about gardening and soil and bugs and vegetables…

What about you?

So here we are, you and I.

Perhaps you’re a master gardener, someone that loves to garden and possesses 2 green thumbs and a few green toes for good measure. You are always looking for some new information and extra tips because you love the garden and the garden loves you.

I’m thankful that you’re here – I’m thankful for your passion that keeps information alive and passed down to the next generation.

Or perhaps you’re like me, someone that loves to plant flowers and considers time digging in the dirt a cheap alternative to a therapist! I’m not a natural when it comes to growing my own food so if you aren’t either, we’ll learn together. My enthusiasm has been known to wane when the weeds stage a war against me. And, oh yes, I forget to water things. I do best with accountability so my plants are counting on this blog to keep my attention span from wandering. If you can relate, you and I are sure to be friends.

In other words, we’ll laugh and cry together.

Or maybe you don’t have a green thumb…don’t despair! Maybe you want your family to eat healthy food, and you’ve decided to stop worrying about the next food recall because you’re going to grow it yourself. I am super excited to help you on your journey! Drawing on my husband’s knowledge as well as results from my own quest toward horticulture heaven, I’m determined to simplify and de-mystify the process so that you will be a grand success and never be satisfied with a store bought tomato, ever again!

You can…and should…get in the dirt

No matter your background or level of expertise, you can grow some of your own food.

Even if a lot of your effort is trial and error. Even if some plants pass over to glory land prematurely in the process. Even if you have a very small yard or just a sunny porch or balcony.

In gardening, there’s so much more to embrace than just growing things.

The technical side can seem overwhelming – so much information, so many choices, how far apart can you plant the peppers and how many hours of daylight does the porch actually get?….don’t get too bogged down before you begin.

The satisfaction of growing your own food – not to mention the health benefits – is only one aspect of all that awaits you.

Gardening gets you outside, offers a reprieve from the busyness of life, and challenges you to learn new things.

Y’all, it’s o.k. not to know it all when you begin. Dig a little hole and plant a little plant. Add a little water and see what happens. Grab a hat and some sunscreen and let’s get in the dirt!