Spring Time -- Let's Garden

Finally, I think that we are breaking winter and spring is almost here in Minnesota. Even though we had some snow this week, I have been waking up to the melody of birds every morning -- oh, so wonderful and such JOY!

My husband was outside last week starting to break apart the soil to prepare it for planting. We don't have a lawn, but rather flower and vegetable gardens. I am so happy to hear that across the country more people are pulling out their landscaped lawns and adding flowers, vegetables and even chicken coops. There is a movement happening! I think that this movement is partially driven by the economic times, but also interest in organic foods and having nutritious foods available -- in your own backyard. According to USA Today, The National Gardening Association predicts a 40 percent increase in the number of homes growing vegetable gardens in comparison with two years ago.

It was a few weeks ago, when Michelle Obama, along with some DC area school children, planted a vegetable garden which will be used in the meals prepared at the White House. The White House vegetable garden may have an effect on the nation, "Those gardens, modeled after a White House patch planted by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943, were intended to inspire self-sufficiency, and at their peak supplied 40 percent of the nation's fresh produce, said Roger Doiron, founding director of Kitchen Gardeners International", says USA Today.

Even if you are a person who doesn't like vegetables, having your own vegetable garden and eating a freshly picked fruit or vegetable is an experience. I remember back to when I was living in California and had my first taste of a "real strawberry". I grew up eating strawberries flown in from California, but also ate a lot of wild strawberries at our cabin in Northern Michigan. The wild strawberries were small and tart, perfect for making jam. One day on a trip down the California coast we stopped outside of Watsonville, home of Driscolls and many strawberry fields. We had a bunch of strawberries that were picked that morning and were farmed without chemicals. The strawberries were very large, incredibly juicy and oh so sweet. I will remember that moment forever because it felt like I was eating a strawberry for the first time. It tasted nothing like the strawberries I had eaten all of my life.

Growing a garden does take some planning and reading. Below are some resources to help you get started.

Happy Planting!

University of Minnesota Extension -- excellent resource and should be your first call if thinking about planting a garden. The extension offers educational programs and e-learning specific to Minnesota and the northern region.

Sunset Magazine's Guide to Growing A Vegetable Garden -- good guide. Sunset magazine is based on the West coast, so may not provide specific advice about Minnesota.

Sunset Magazine's Instructional Video on How To Plant A Tomato -- great simple video on planting a tomato plant.

Urban Gardening

City Gardening Magazine