Fruit of the earth - garden continued
April 22, 2008
Posted by CindyW in : Green Journal , trackback
Happy Earth Day. Actually I think it’s been an Earth year for many of you eco-nuts, so Happy Anniversary 
Aside from reporting that my husband continues to hijack my garden project, I am beyond excited to tell you that we harvested two strawberries this weekend. Yes, two whole ones which we split between the four of us. They were the best we have ever tasted, but then we weren’t exactly unbiased.
A month ago, when strawberries first presented their glorious selves in the farmers’ market, I was suspicious enough to question the farmers whether they were truly locally grown. “Are they from Mexico?” I slipped in a quick question to a vendor that I had not seen before. “No,” he was either insulted or amused by my ignorance, “we are in Watsonville” – which is only 25 miles south of us. Standing in the 50 degree weather, I wasn’t entirely convinced. Well, now that they have turned bright red with my brown thumb, I must apologize to the strawberry farmers I doubted. Here it goes: I am so very sorry that I ever suspected you for slipping some south of the border strawberries into the market.
Guess we are just super strawberry lucky.
What is the wire mesh all about? You ask. Well, our strawberries are being protected under high security fence from urban scavengers – raccoons. They can be quite cute, but they are tough as nails and they stole our first two strawberries. The nerve! The berries were there one evening, being adored and salivated on by us, then the next morning, they were gone. No leaves were trampled upon and the unripe berries were never touched. A couple of nights later, I heard rustling in the backyard at night and tiptoed to the window. A shadow quickly climbed up and over the fence. Thief! A thief with incredible agility and dexterity! Ever since we “locked up” our strawberry plants, we have not lost a berry yet. I have no doubt that the raccoons are scheming.
Our lettuce and bush beans were transplanted from the seedling box to the ground this weekend.
Carrots, tomatoes, and green onions will go in next week. Then the peppers and chard. In the seedling box, we just put in water melon, sunflower and Marigold seeds. I admit that we went a bit crazy being first-timers and all.
It’s strange but utterly gratifying to watch the plants start from seemingly life-less seeds, break out of the ground with their fragile and tiny limbs, and finally stretch tall and strong enough to stand on their own in the ground.
(image courtesy of Norman Public Schools Technology)
My whole family watches them grow a little bit everyday with such fascination, you’d think they were babies. Maybe I am totally weird, but I feel very touched by the process.
What’s next? Singing and reading poetry to them? Then you know for sure that I have not just gone eco-nuts, but nuts. Period.
CindyW
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Comments»
Congratulations! I thought the first bell pepper we harvested was the best tasting one ever too!
The soil around your strawberry plant looks a bit “tight”. I guess its working out for you though. I am worried that the soil for my tomatoes are too tight and the roots won’t be able to grow and expand. But then again I know nothing about growing things.
And thanks for the anniversary wishes.
Sounds like gardening is for you and your family.
Mmm, fresh strawberries are the best. Poor little starving raccoons.
Happy Earth Day to you!
Congratulations! The first strawberries. Last year we only would get one at a time and would divide one up four ways. It was still delicious.
Happy earth day.
Aw man, I already finished the strawberries I picked up from the farmer’s market on Sunday!
Now I am dying for strawberries.
Happy Earth Day!
Yay, everyone loves strawberries! Still glad that our farmers’ market is my backup - actually primary source of strawberries. Otherwise there will be quite a bit of fight in this family…
I dote on my bean plants as well. I think it’s because they give the most immediate gratification. They were the first to sprout and I can see measurable change everyday as the creep whereas everything else takes longer to show growth.
N.&J., I can’t agree with you more on how satisfying it is to watch beans grow. They literally push up the soil, stretch out like this is their world, and just grow like there is no tomorrow
My son LOVED your graphic of the plant sprouting. He asked me to explain it to him at least three times. Great post. I’m enjoying your blog.
P.S. He’s also crazy about the lady bug at the top of your blog!
Donna, your son is my new little hero for being interested in how seeds sprout and for liking ladybugs! Any kid who is fascinated with the natural world is a cool dude in my book
Thanks, Cindy. This morning he picked up an ant from off the kitchen counter, let it crawl up his arm and said, “Look, Mommy! It’s a creepy crawly!” He’s all boy.