We Have our First Vegetables!

I was actually super pessimistic, like kick the dirt, shrug the shoulders type pessimistic. I didn't believe that we could pull off growing anything in the ground we had sown, knowing nothing had grown there but grass before, and that we wouldn't be at the farm to tend to it on a regular basis. I was so pessimistic about the farm that when Ben went to visit it on a weeknight to work on the irrigation system, I was convinced he lied to me about seeing any growth in the beds. I thought he was just trying to cheer me up after a long day at work.

Well...

I was so wrong! And so happy with what we saw when I went to weed last weekend! Magnificent beets, turnips, carrots and corn!

Corn!!

The joy you can get from growing a plant from a seed is immeasurable. It makes you believe in life and earth and the magic of nature. Just think about it! Those baby corn plants came from a gorgeous, pink, dried up little kernel.

That day I weeded straight for nearly three hours. My legs were so sore from bending and crouching, I wasn't fully recovered for three days. In fact my hamstrings are still sore. Its also rather satisfying to see 150 feet of garden bed fully weeded, despite how much work it entailed. (yes I know you see lots of weeds in that picture, but that, my friend, is an organically grown garden with no pesticides, so appreciate the process!).

Were there some seeds that did not germinate? Yes. Were there numerous thistles that poked me in the rear every time I bent down to weed? Yes. Was there epic failure in the irrigation system that we had to work out the kinks (pun intended)? Yes. But that's one of the textbooks found in a market gardener's library: Failure.

This is all one big experiment that will one day teach us the in's and out's of farming that will make it that much more achievable to one day have a lifestyle where you can work with your dogs and grow your own food. Sign me up, amirite?

We might not grow enough vegetables to make any kind of profit this year. We might not even make it to market. But we are learning valuable things about growing food. We aren't sitting on the couch watching t.v thinking life could change, and maybe that would be nice one day. We are feet to the dirt, dirt under the nails and every weekend sunburns. So cheers to the doers and the beliebers, oops I mean believers. Things only change if you take the steps in that direction. So we can be the change makers we want to see in the world! Farmers, changing the world by feeding us right, and taking back the lifestyle that kept our grandparents strong and healthy.

I am sounding awfully heroic, but I honestly do feel like its a purpose worthy of the title, and worthy of my efforts, and I hope my readers will support the cause of revitalizing the farming world by supporting their local farmers whenever they can.

Until next time my friends!

K