In this corner of our blog, we delve into the vibrant tapestry of gardening, exploring how it transcends the boundaries of mere hobby or sustenance, and instead, becomes an integral part of who we are.
For many of us, our forebears were hardworking farmers who toiled the land, and as time passed, we transformed into gardeners, keeping the age-old tradition alive. It’s a connection that has shaped our spirit and our soul for centuries, grounding us in the earth beneath our feet and the stories written in the soil.
The tales you’ll discover here are as diverse as the petals in a summer garden, yet they share a common thread: the belief that the gardening life is about so much more than just the practical aspects of planting, growing, and harvesting. It’s a vibrant, living art that intertwines with our lives, enriching the experiences of our families, friends, and neighbors. It’s a cultural touchstone that weaves its way into the very fabric of our society.
This section of our website features a collection of talented authors, each a member of our Food Gardening Network, and collectively, they bring you a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Their stories are not just educational; they are a source of inspiration and, above all, they are fun.
So, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a curious novice, we invite you to explore the wisdom, creativity, and joy that emanate from our gardening life category. Join us as we dig deeper into the rich soil of our collective heritage, sowing seeds of knowledge, nurturing connections, and harvesting inspiration along the way. Welcome to a world where gardening is more than just a pastime; it’s a way of life.
Fresh air, nature, flowers, veggies and the satisfaction of nurturing living, growing plants. What’s not to love about gardening? However, getting down on your hands and knees to tend to your blooms can become more challenging with age. If the thought of sitting down on the ground and getting back up is stopping you from […]
Gardening with kids is stressful, but when I was a child, my mom used to trust me with all sorts of garden chores. I would take care of her tomatoes, her roses, and her zucchinis. I would weed and water and pick the ripe fruits and vegetables. When she wasn’t looking, I’d try to hand-pollinate […]
There are a lot of funny gardening stories I can relate to. Kids picked the tomatoes too early? Been there. Dog tore up 200 freshly planted bulbs? Totally! There was this one time I grew an entire patch of underripe watermelons. By the time the cold was settling in, I had to pick them, and […]
As an avid food gardener, I have a lot of favorites, but when it comes to peppers, the Poblano pepper holds a special place in my garden and my heart. It’s the James Bond of the pepper world—smooth, sophisticated, and just spicy enough to keep things interesting. If you love homegrown flavor with a touch […]
As someone creeping up on 80 and still feeling sprightly, I often reflect on how I’ve kept my body moving, my mind sharp, and my spirit young. Turns out, the secret isn’t bottled in a supplement or buried in a self-help book. It’s planted right outside in the garden. My mother was a nurse and […]
While I spend a lot of time wallowing over winged Japanese beetles that devour my dahlias each Summer, they’re not the only aggressive flying pest that woes me. That’s right, I’m talking about birds in the garden. Four years ago, I planted four blueberry bushes, imagining a bounty of blueberries every Summer. I’d be serving […]
I consider myself lucky in a lot of ways. One of the biggest ones, for me, is knowing that my daughter is growing up with a family home garden. Since before she could walk, we’ve spent time in the garden together. She knows about planting seeds, waiting for those seeds to germinate, pulling weeds, and […]
Revenge or fair play? That’s what my garden story is about today. Are you ready to be the judge in a case of a garden crime? We all have that favorite plant. You know the one that you’ve tried to grow for years and is finally thriving? That’s the plant I’m talking about here. It […]
I’ve been growing a garden for years, and have always heard the tales of other gardeners’ cross-pollination woes, but it’s never happened to me. I was always so careful to keep my plants separate, and to only grow heirloom varieties. But then there was this year, where something went terribly wrong. I noticed it first […]
You can learn a lot about a person just by reading what they write. Some folks come off kind, others terse, some brilliant, and some—well, a bit outrageous. But Mike McGrath? He’s a category all his own. Outrageously kind, comically smart, enthusiastically chaotic, and definitely not stoopid. No sir, not our Mike. Reading Mike’s work […]
