Why not garden? It is food for your soul and table!

Why not garden? Gardening is food for your soul, mind, and table. It can be simple and inexpensive, or as complex and involved as you wish, which makes it your garden, your experience, your opportunity to grow something. Growing something is fulfilling in some mysterious way. I think the most skeptical person would be fulfilled by growing lettuce themselves and creating a succulent salad in a short amount of time. Touching the dirt, seeing and feeling the seeds, caring for the wee plants, and watching them grow into something beautiful is a meditative experience. The growing process, although grounded in science and nature, is magical and soul warming.

I was just out rock climbing and all I could think about, besides holding on, was the wonder of creating a living and growing world in my backyard. Dirt is amazing. Watching seeds sprout is like waiting for Santa Claus to come—you peak at the dirt s each day waiting for a little sprout to show like looking for presents under the tree. And then you get to eat the presents that grow!

Here are a few ideas of how to begin your endeavor in the dirt, starting with small ideas (I’ll be moving to a bigger world of garden growing in later posts). When people ask me what they should grow if they don’t have much time or money, I always say get started with greens, and some herbs. These can be grown in buckets on your porch or even inside your screen door (if it has light). You don’t need to spend money on fancy containers; you can grow things in old buckets, a pile of dirt in the yard, an old sink or wash bin, cloth bags or whatever type of vessel you choose. You just need dirt, some nutrients (natural fertilizer or compost), seeds, and water to get started.

To keep it simple, start by putting dirt—from your yard or bags—into containers. You can plant seeds right in that dirt, but the plants will be happier if you add some nutrients to the soil before planting. I add organic bone meal, an organic all purpose veggie fertilizer, and compost. If you have to choose one, go with all purpose veggie fertilizer mix. Many garden shops sell all these and compost. Fireplace or woodstove ash is also a great additive. I choose organic nutrients, but you could also use Miracle Grow. It definitely works. Water the soil well after you have added the nutrients (according to the application instruction on the nutrient containers) and let it sit for a day before planting.

Now plant your seeds. Choose whatever salad greens you love. Some good options are mixed lettuce seeds like mesclun greens, any variety of kale seeds, and a package of Swiss chard seeds. Also grab a packet of your favorite herb: basil, parsely, or cilantro. Plant the seeds in the buckets of dirt as recommended on the seed packet. Cover the seeds lightly with dirt and water well. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate and pop up as wee plants. You are now on your way to making salad from your backyard. Make sure to water your wee plants as needed. And if you have left over fertilizer, add it to water and feed the plants every few weeks.

When ready, pick your greens, don’t pull out the entire plant. The same goes for the herbs. They will keep growing and renewing their leaves. Eventually, the plants will grow more slowly. You can start a new bucket of greens three weeks after starting the first batch, just so you have another round of fresh and tender greens ready.

Give it a whirl. I think you will find it to be a new and enjoyable way to experience nature. And, marveling over your plants with a cup of coffee in hand is an awesome way to start the day.