The Urban Farmer

So what you have going on here would be referred to as 'Urban Farming' right?

Yep. (Laughs) Yes it is.

How'd you get started with it?

Well our 1st house had a really small yard. We built two garden boxes and planted way too much into each of them. I really enjoyed growing veggies but the yard was just too small. So when we were looking for our new home, we chose one with a larger lot.

Have you always liked gardening?

I didn't grow up with a vegetable garden. My Mother-in-law has always had a knack for gardening and keeps a really nice garden at her house. She kind of inspired me to want to do the same thing in my yard. And my Grandma has always been a gardener. She always says that I got my love of gardening from her because we are both left handed.

Uh-oh, I'm left handed and don't have the knack, what happened to me?

(Laughs) Oh I think that being left handed means that you have extra creativity. I have my garden and you have your photography.

So your Grandma was your inspiration as well?

Oh yes, she would spend every waking hour working in her garden. She was in charge of her Church's rock garden and loved every moment of it. I remember when our first son was young, she would put him in charge of pulling the mint and buttercup.

Why do YOU love gardening so much?

I am very passionate about gardening. I love producing my own food. I like knowing where it comes from. It is important to me that my kids know where food comes from as well. I think that it's good for them to have an organic connection. To know what food is made of. For instance, I remember watching that Jamie Oliver show, 'Food Revolution'. He held up a garden potato and a french fry. The kids were grossed out by the potato and all they wanted was the french fry. I like that my kids will pull a carrot from the ground, wash it off, and eat it.

Is gardening relaxing?

At the end of the day, it's my favorite thing to do. I love gathering the produce that we will eat the next day. And my husband loves it too. We like to cook together and it's nice to share the similar interest.

So ten years from now.....what will your garden look like?

What we have now, just multiplied. I'd like at least an acre. Enough to be maintainable but still enjoyable. I've really enjoyed canning and freezing my fruits and vegetables so that we can eat them year round. My mother-in-law started this interest of mine by showing me how to make applesauce and jam. Now I can veggies such as tomatoes and pesto. I freeze a whole assortment of berries for the winter.

You have learned a lot from your Mother-in-law.

Yes. She is a gifted gardener and cook. She learned how to can from her family and has passed this knowledge on to me. I think it's really cool. And like I said, my husband is totally on board so it makes it really fun for me.

Do you ever want to have a working farm?

Probably not but I could see myself working in some sort of a gardening environment. Or possibly working with Organic foods. I'd love to support a local place.

What's your biggest piece of gardening advice?

Wow, you hit me with a whopper there. Okay, I think that you need to do what you love. If it's something that you enjoy, you'll put your heart into it. I like the idea of eating what I grow. It's important to me that my kids grow up with a responsibility to take care of the Earth and to take care of themselves. This is just a small way to do it.

This all came together for me the other day when my oldest son said to me, "Mommy when I grow up, I'm going to have chickens and a garden"

And I thought, "Okay, mission accomplished".

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Yesterday's blip here.