Gardening 101

Let me add a little disclaimer here just in case you think that the title of this post presupposes my gardening abilities, because...well...it doesn't.

When Adam and I first moved into our house, our backyard consisted of dirt and more dirt. Luckily for us, my dad is a landscape architect (and a great one at that), so we asked him to draw up a design for our backyard, leaving enough room for a small garden.

Little did we know, when we built our first 4'x 8' raised bed, that it would become an addiction of sorts. Through much trial and error (and with more still to come), we have been given the opportunity to partake in the cycle of our food, experiencing everything from planting seeds to harvesting their fruit, and it has been very rewarding.

There is nothing quite like eating ultra fresh food; food that 5 minutes prior was still growing and receiving nutrients from the earth. When fruits and vegetables are picked at their peak the flavor and nutritional value simply cannot be matched. But there is so much more to it than just fresh food; it's getting back to nature and, in a way, simplifying our lives.



Just after taking this picture, Caleb and Isaiah ate the entire bowl of fresh broccoli.

Our fast paced, instant gratification seeking society, has become very disconnected from the food process, opting instead for the commercially grown, mass produced counterpart. And while convenience can be a good thing, I fear that the more we force nature to conform to our ever increasing standards, the more we lose sight of its true beauty.

And believe me, if you have ever had the chance to eat a tomato fresh off the vine, it is a beautiful thing.