The Tale of the Franken-Veggie
According to the National Garden Bureau, the number one reason why people garden is for safe and healthy food.
I confess. I was a very picky eater as a kid. I think the only veggies I liked were broccoli, carrots, and potatoes. I wouldn’t go near a salad. It’s amazing my mom kept me…
When we were stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, we moved into quarters previously occupied by a Colonel who planted prize winning rose bushes. There was a nice sized garden plot in the backyard; even an untrained eye could recognize the richness of that soil. My dad decided to plant a veggie garden with a bit of fruit for the first time. Everything he grew — tomatoes, green peppers, carrots, radishes, scallions — was both gigantic and delicious! He thought he was Mr. Green jeans!
Then two plants, previously unknown to humankind, cropped up: the cuculoupe and the cantacumber. Who knew cucumbers and cantaloupes cross pollinated? Certainly not my dad! They were like something out of “Frankenstein” and totally inedible, as well as a bit scary. Even the birds wouldn’t go near them. They knew something alien to nature was growing there…
Yet, that was the year I discovered homegrown tomatoes. I think I was 15 and would just eat them over the kitchen sink like peaches. Salads soon followed.
A couple of years later, in Virginia, he decided to plant lettuce. He didn’t know they had to be tied down to create a head of lettuce. I’m pretty sure we were the only people in the neighborhood who had a lettuce tree in our backyard. Then again, it made harvesting for our nightly dinner salad really easy!
The point I’m trying to make is that, despite his hilarious and scary mistakes in his gardens, I’m not sure I would have ever embraced raw veggies and salads had he not tried. And, trust me; I’m a huge salad fan now because of what Dad grew then!
“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.” - Lewis Grizzard
Imagine reading a book under your Japanese plum tree and just reaching up and grabbing the fruit of your labor for a thirst quenching snack on a hot summer day. Think of the smile on your face as you toss a salad for your family with veggies that were grown in your garden. Consider the convenience of going in your backyard instead of rushing to the grocery store to whip up an incredibly fresh crudité when unexpected guests arrive on a sultry summer evening.
You don’t need a huge plot of land to grow veggies, fruits, and berries. Many are happy in containers on your deck, patio, balcony, or porch. And don’t forget to plant herbs. They not only spice up your favorite recipes, they add scent and texture to your garden!
At Bodin’s Tropicals, we’re all about happy families and healthy gardening. We’ll help you keep scary monsters away from your fruits and veggies. We promise!
PS: In case you’re a gardening newbie, please visit: Life on the Balcony or BBC. At Bodin’s, we love to share information and encourage all kinds of green thumbs — be they new or seasoned!
