Lessons Learned from the Garden

This summer I have attempted my first ever vegetable garden.  The house we are currently living in has a gorgeous big back yard and is perfect for a large garden.

Lesson #1:  Do not be to proud to accept help
We have had some very gracious neighbors who have helped and given lots of advice.  Our next door neighbor who is a "retired farmer" has a huge meticulous garden.  His wife humbly told me it was always his dream to have a big garden but he never had time when he was farming.  She hesitantly after much persisting took the few dollars I offered in exchange for the corn seed they had given.  But she made sure to send me home with a bag full of home-made fasnachts.  I don't even really like donuts but if you have never had a true home-made fasnacht you have not lived!

Lesson #2:  Be persistent
The start to my garden was a little rocky.  My peas which were planted a little late never sprouted.  Apparently there was some worm that was eating them this year.  A few other things I planted by seed never sprouted either.  But I was determined to press on.  I walked down the road to the local greenhouse and bought several tomato and pepper plants.  We then planted corn, green beans, cucumbers and lettuce, all of which have done great.

Lesson #3:  Always let the little ones help
There is something amazing about planting seeds, watching them grow, harvesting and then preparing and eating it.  Not to mention delicious.  It has been wonderful for my sons to help in the process as well.  They now understand that corn, green beans, tomatoes don't come from the freezer or can.  I had my frustrating moments of watching them trample seedlings or pick green tomatoes but I know the value of what they were learning is irreplaceable.  The other day I was preparing lunch and I told my 3 year-old son to go to the garden and pick the reddest tomato he could find and he did and we ate it for lunch.  Today my 1 1/2 year-old son was kept busy for quite awhile by helping to peel off the husk from our corn.

I have a new found respect for farmers.  I don't have to go very far back to find farmers on both sides of my family.  In fact I only have to go to my grandparents.  Both my maternal and paternal grandparents were in to some sort of farming for larger periods of their lives.  But I cannot imagine having your livelihood dependent on the weather and how your crops do that year.

Thankfully my livelihood is not dependent on my garden but we have been enjoying the bounty of fresh vegetables from garden to table!