This evening we ate our first garden produce. I went out shortly before dinner and picked some romaine lettuce from our garden — the first stuff that’s all grown up and ready to sacrifice itself for my dinner. Currently there are six tiny tomatoes on the vines, and there are perhaps three zucchini blossoms ready to spring forth. The peppers and eggplant are (I hope) waiting for warmer weather, but the lettuce is ready to eat.
Eating stuff we planted and grew ourselves was more exciting than I expected it to be. There was something amazingly satisfying about wandering out to the garden, colander in hand, and coming back in with fresh-picked lettuce, still warm from the sun and the earth. Wearing only a light dressing of extra virgin olive oil and our 18-year-old balsamic vinegar, it was joined in the salad bowl by fresh radishes from Stephe and Ritu at Someday Farm. I know exactly what fertilized it, I know exactly what kind of pest repellent was used on it. It’s organic, it’s beautiful, and it’s ours.
Amazing, isn’t it, how homegrown food has shifted from a means of survival to a hobby for so many of us around the world. It’s also pretty amazing because I think I’d feel the same way if I managed to achieve edible results from my garden!
Comment by Josh Hathaway — July 6, 2009 @ 10:01 am
According to what I’ve read, the downturn in the economy led to an explosion of interest in gardening. I’m not sure why, because the start-up costs are not insignificant, but apparently this has been a good year for the garden suppliers.
And since eating locally is pretty hot right now, it’s hard to get more local than your own backyard.
Comment by Lisa — July 6, 2009 @ 11:13 am