π growing what you eat π
new year thoughts on practice, curiosity, and my favorite books.
Rise free from care before the dawn, and seek adventures. Let the noon find thee by other lakes, and the night overtake thee everywhere at home. There are no larger fields than these, no worthier games than may here be played. Grow wild according to thy nature, like these sedges and brakes, which will never become English hay. Let the thunder rumble; what if it threaten ruin to farmersβ crops? That is not its errand to thee. Take shelter under the cloud, while they flee to carts and sheds. Let not to get a living be thy trade, but thy sport. Enjoy the land but own it not. Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling, and spending their lives like serfs. - Walden
I am learning that I garden differently every year. My garden planning process is somewhat selfish: I choose my projects and processes based on how I feel so that I can do what I want to do.
I am also learning that I really have two modes: following curiosity and participating in the practice. These are the two forces in our lives always at odds, so I accept the tension and try to be mindful of which I am choosing that day.
Practice has chosen itself as my word for the year. It is humbling, encouraging, comforting, and important. It is quietly empathetic and proudly admirable. Practice reminds me of childhood: It both expects and accepts failure. It knows what it is: the thing that pushes you to the finish line. It knows what it is not: Perfection.
The days when curiosity does not speak to me, I practice practicing. Several times a week I find a little time to sit down and focus on the garden. Show up, show up, rise free from care before the dawn. β οΈ
This year, I am slower to move on the mapping, drawing, calculating, organizing. Typically, I am a person who is inspired to tidy up her dreams by creating a grand orchestra of activity in excel spreadsheets and notion databases. Right now, that feels hard. So, I wait for it to come and instead practice reflecting. π΅π»
WHERE TO START
If you donβt know where to start with this yearβs garden β I encourage you to start with writing out what you eat. Or, what you would like to eat.
Then, I recommend exploring all the varieties of that vegetable/herb/fruit that exist. My PEAK LIFE JOY is discovering how lame the grocery store varieties are and how the flavor of a non-generic variety is 10x what I expected.
WHERE I AM GOING FOR INSPIRATION
πΒ Baker Seeds - This seed company has one of the largest selections of heirloom varieties, owned by Jere and Emily Gettle. They offer a free catalog each year as well as a βplus upβ 500 page catalog for about $12, which is a work of art. Worth getting as a coffee table book, recipe book, βentertain your child for daysβ book. You think you know your vegetables? YOU DO NOT. ππΌ
πΊΒ Big Dreams Small Spaces by Monty Don on Amazon Prime. I re-watch this every winter. I learn every time.
πΊΒ Gardeners World on BBC / BritBox. This is a weekly gardening show hosted by Monty Don, Adam Frost, Alan Titchmarsh, Frances Tophill and Carol Klein.
π»Β Β Growing A Greener World on Youtube. This show is on its 12th season and hosted by Joe Lampβl. I just click around and watch what Iβm interested in.
πΊΒ Monty Donβs Italian Gardens on Netflix. I am openly obsessed with Monty Don and I will never apologize. ππ»ββοΈΒ He changed my life.
WHAT I ATE ALL YEAR LONG
Beets, Carrots & Turnips - These are the 3 kings of my garden. π₯
Peppers - I kind of feel that I discovered peppers this past year. I am not a spicy person, but did you know you can saute pretty much any of them and YUM. I grew Row7βs habanadas, traditional bells, banana peppers, and I will be trying more! π«πΆ
Chives, Parsley, Dill - I have always focused on the mediterranean herbs (Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary) but this year I caught myself grabbing for these three on a near daily basis. πΏ
Asian Greens - I have not been a βsalad personβ for most of my life but asian greens are changing this for me. Plus, they thrive in the winter. Theyβre more delicious, easier to grow, and more nutrious. Chijimisai, Tatsoi, Bok Choy, Chinese Cabbage...Letβs goooo π₯¬
Leeks - Leek soup, sauteed leek, leek pasta...this plant is the queen of the garden. π
WHAT I WANT TO EAT MORE OF
Beans - Dragonβs Tongue and Sunset Runners changed what I thought beans were. I grew up very poor and my experience with beans was salt-less, old, dry beans or canned beans. Fresh beans from your garden are a different food altogether and now I want to try them all. π±
Potatoes - We eat so many potatoes / sweet potatoes and it is ridiculous to buy them. They do take up space, so I will be looking for ways to grow a lot in a little. π₯π₯π₯
Cucumber - Iβve grown these every year because they seem like the quintessential summer staple (second to tomatoes) but honestly? Iβve rarely reached for them. This year I discovered mediterranean salads (cucumber, feta, purple onion, chickpea, cherry tomato) and it is my new go-to summer lunch. π₯
WHAT I AM NOT EATING
Celery - I grew Chinese Pink Celery this year and it got hot too early and went bitter. Plus, I realized I just donβt eat it. I will plant less and grow it in the fall, since we only put it in soups. π²
Cabbage - If you are short on space, I recommend buying cabbage (and brussels) from your farmers market instead. Cabbage moths + heat waves nearly put me in my grave this year. They are a cool crop and I wonβt be planting them in the spring anymore - I will seed in early summer for a late fall/early winter harvest, and grow less.
Butternut Squash - This is actually one of my favorite vegetables but I recently learned itβs very high FODMAP :( so while I spend this year healing my gut, I am replacing with Delicata.
FOR SECOND YEAR GARDENERS
I also am reflecting on what grew easily vs what was a challenge. Experienced farmers will tell you to give something 3 years before you decide itβs not meant for your climate. To me, this is a little bit like asking to watch 6 episodes first - but there is wisdom in it. π¦
Some years are just good carrot years, others are bad carrot years. If something failed, it might have been you, but it very likely was planet earth. π
For example, last year my carrots were SO GOOD and SO EASY. This year they refused to grow. Also last year my radishes were BOMB. This year, crappy. And last year my leeks were meh, but this year they were easy and lush. Having a really diverse garden helps soften the blow of the off-years. ππΌ
Lastly, Petunia and I would like to recommend our 3 favorite books of 2021:
Letters To A Young Farmer - A collection of short essays
In Defense of Food - Michael Pollan
The Year Round Vegetable Gardener - Niki Jabbour
See if you can find a little time this weekend to browse, reflect, and get inspired. Follow your curiosity, or just show up for the practice.
- Lauren
I agree with so much here. Carrots have to be the most finicky thing I've tried to grow so far! Been making my way through Michael Pollan's books on Audible, they're great!