Okay. Maybe that title is a bit optimistic but I have high hopes. Sue me.

Growing up my parents always planted a large vegetable garden. Coming from farming families, I think it was in their blood. And even though I was required to help plant, pull weeds, and pick veggies, I remember it being a mostly positive experience with lots of quality time with Mom and Dad. Therefore when I expressed a desire to start a small garden for my own family a couple of years ago, my Dad was quick to respond. In nothing short of two days he had identified the correct location in the yard, erected some wooden ties to separate the area from the landscaping, filled it with nutrient rich topsoil and suggested the best choices of plants. At 65, the man is a machine. Clearly, there was no turning back now.

My 6 year old (then 4) was thrilled. We had a fun and educational trip to the Southern Styles Nursery and then filled in the rest at the garden center at good ole Walmart. She loved donning her sweet little gardening gloves and shovel and helping. Of course she was easily distracted by the random earthworm, grub worm, ant, bee, clover flower, broken flower bloom, gentle breeze, chatting neighbors, barking dog, blowing leaf, etc. so it takes a bit more patience than I anticipated to plant 6 tomato plants, some cucumbers and some peppers but that’s okay. In the end, the kids were so proud and they actually enjoyed tasting the fruits of their labor. That alone is a small miracle.

This year, we’re taking it to a whole new level. First of all, my one-year-old son is intently interested in lending a pair of tiny hands. With three kids helping, my role has shifted from chief gardener to an unhinged referee. Second, you see, first-grade science apparently includes seed gestation so it’s no longer okay to start our garden from those cute little plants. We now start with a mini greenhouse and seeds on the dining room table. (For what it’s worth, these things actually work very well.) Sigh. And guess what, we’ve expanded our selection to include cantaloupe, sunflowers, sugar snap peas, and green beans. Too much for one small garden patch? Absolutely. Unfortunately I lost the in-store negotiations to a shrewd six-year-old and her clever four-year-old sister.

Just a few days ago, the 25 sprouts were transplanted into our garden spot as I held my breath and prayed that the birds and bunnies were not salivating over an easy feast. So far, so good. We’ve lost a few…a couple to the one-year old with a sand shovel and a couple more to more natural causes. This weekend we will make some improvements with the addition of some weed guard. As always it will be an adventure. Stay tuned.

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