A First Time Gardener’s Blog - Part 1: Sweet Support System

by Melissa Christensen

“There is nothing like a garden fresh cucumber.”

“Have you ever had a string bean plucked right from the garden? The taste is indescribable.”

“We used to pick the tomatoes, and take big juicy bites out of them, before even stepping out of the garden!”

I think I say these statements every time I cut into a store bought vegetable. Well, this year, I won’t have to wish for fresh veggies, I can actually eat them...right from my own backyard. My husband and I are ready to garden! But I won’t be going about this blindly. I come from a family of green thumbs. My aunt is a gardening extraordinaire. She lives just outside of Boston, in a very urban area, but has a garden that is about 12 ft. x 20 ft. in her front yard. I always smile at the opposing sites when we visit - my aunt’s flourishing green nirvana, with a backdrop of endless storefronts, cars parked everywhere, and a plethora of traffic signs. But her veggies flourish and her flowers brighten the gray street - and I swear that when people are in the middle of that garden, you can barely hear or see them through all of the greenery.

But most of my garden fresh experiences growing up came from my Mom’s garden. The lady can grow anything. From tomatoes to eggplant to zucchini to herbs, she grows it. May I add that she grows them all organically. In fact, it was from my Mom that I learned that most organic items can be turned into compost, which turns into an excellent soil. Sure, I groaned and complained when I was a teenager and I had to throw those apple cores and egg shells into the compost pot, to be thrown into the compost bin. But when I moved into my first apartment, and I had to throw those banana peels and too far gone to be eaten grapes into a plastic garbage bag in the garbage can, well, it just seemed so wrong. I came to understand and respect my Mom’s compost bin. Now the compost bin reigns supreme at my address. My husband and I seriously wouldn’t know how to live without it. Yup, Mom was right...again!

She’s right about every other gardening trick, tool, and tidbit, too. If she pinches this here, this will happen; if she plants this this way, that will happen. Her giant garden is a work of art as well as a result of a green hobby. And yes, those veggies right from the vine are divine!

Its too early too tell about me, but my sister has definitely inherited those great gardener genes. Her garden, actually her whole landscaping, complete with flowers blooming in every season, is gorgeous. Last year, she made an entire salad - from various kinds of lettuce to tomatoes to cucumbers, etc - from only veggies from her garden. Now that’s a locally grown meal! She was excited to hear about me starting my own garden this year. In fact, my sister seeded tomato plants for me starting in March, and kept me posted on their progress until it was time to pass the little plants along to me. She has given me much information, advice, and confidence that I need; and I look forward to vegetable swapping with her this summer.

I am also very lucky to have my husband, Pete, along for the gardening ride with me. Pete’s degree is in environmental studies, and the man can tell you what any tree, shrub, plant or weed is if you can’t figure it out. Hiking with him through the woods is always interesting, because his knowledge of what is around him is so impressive. He can get anything to grow, and grow beautifully. When we first began dating, he saved many of my house plants from their ultimate demise. In fact, some are still with us today, eight years later, thanks to him. When we first moved into our home, the yard was a tangled mess. Pete cultivated an organic lawn that I tell him he should sell as sod to golf courses because it is so lush and green. He’s good...and he’s been the greatest green influence in my life. I know that Pete is going to be a great friend to our little garden.

So, it is with these influences in my life that I go forth to garden! It is not an easy task, I know, but I have the knowledge and advice of great gardeners and green thumbs close to me to help me along the way. I hope that within a few months time, my garden is bursting with yummy veggies and herbs. Then I will be able to say, “There is nothing like a garden fresh vegetable...here, try one of mine!”

Next Entry: Part 2: Let’s Get This Garden Started!