Getting the garden ready

My mother–singer/songwriter, clothing designer and master chef, is really the farmer in the family.  Having come from a farming family, she has always loved growing things and learned from her parents, and her brother, who has carried on the family tradition including raising grass-fed cattle, pigs and chickens. So it’s no surprise she is the one who plans out the garden and what will be grown then canned or frozen for the winter. 

We plant a little later here in the mountains and have to wait until after the danger of frost passes. My dad has already planted his potatoes, and they are starting to pop up. He will plant his Silver Queen corn, then my mom will plant her green beans, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, squash and other assorted veggies. She already has onions and cabbage in her raised beds near the house. She has apple trees, blueberry bushes and grape vines that were planted by my Dad’s mom. It is an insane amount of work, but my mom does it so we will have fresh veggies, and she likes to know where her food comes from. 

My dad is the one who does all the prep work with the tractor — plowing and harrowing. 

My dad was getting my little patch ready this weekend. I also want to have fresh food, but have to approach the gardening thing on a much smaller scale. 

I’ll plant red and white onions, Italian green beans, butter lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, radishes, and maybe some pumpkins and gourds to use in fall decor.

Even the small amount I plant is a lot of work, but so worth it when we grab lunch from the garden, which we will do all summer. 

I love knowing where my food comes from, and hope to learn all I can about growing and preserving it from the experts…my mom and dad.

In the meantime, before weeding and hoeing start, I’ll enjoy a little porch time with my Dad and super dog:-)

Thanks for stopping by:-)