As I read this article from Planet Green (click the link above to read), I was reflecting on how much we have been enjoying the riches of our garden this summer! I've come a long way since my childhood days of throwing watermelon seeds in the dry dirt along side my home, and praying something would grow. Sadly, nothing did and that closed the chapter on my gardening for a decade or two. Thankfully, in my adult life, my lovely friends have introduced me to the simple and abundant pleasures of gardening. I sit here today knowing, without a doubt, that I will never grow tired of caprese salad prepared fresh from my garden; it doesn't seem my loved ones will either. It is my token pot luck contribution these days.
The beauty of gardening for me is that it connects me to community on so many levels. I am learning about the symbiotic relationships inherent in nature, as we plan
t, grow, prepare and enjoy. Every time we prepare a meal from our garden, we delight together in something we helped to create and how we are nurturing our bodies with healthy, organic, and flavorful foods. To prepare a meal for my friends and family with fresh pickings from my garden is so exciting and rewarding! As new plants go in, I anticipate their growth and fruit with the excitement of a child every day, as I inspect their progress. I thank them, these sweet little treasures, with such humble gratitude. How did I not know how much fun this could be as a child?Sunday, we perused the Encinitas/Leucadia Farmer's Market. I have been eating peaches, blueberries and raspberries like candy ever since. Sunday night, we prepared a steak produced with fully sustainable practices by a local farmer. And the figs, oh the figs!!! I spent 30+ years not knowing about figs! Please, I implore you, if you are a parent or significant role model of a child, introduce them young to the pleasures and delights of "real food".
