How Does Your Garden Grow?

6-26-08

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I love to garden and seem to love it more and more the older I get. In my old house which was in the city, the only spot for a garden was in the alley. My husband thought it was ludicrous to grow food in the same space the garbage trucks drove, but I was determined. Despite its humble location, the garden proved to be very fruitful—with tomatoes into November and basil and mint galore. My current yard presents different challenges—not of space, but of sun. Shrouded with many many trees, it’s almost completely shaded. I have however eked out a small space that gets a few hours of sun a day (it's the photo on the homepage). In it, I grow basil, parsley, chives, sage, arugula, and tomatoes. Unfortunately last year the squirrels got to the tomatoes before we did, but we’re hopeful this year will be different. To gardeners, the important thing is getting your hands in the dirt, not how glamorous your space is. This year I’ve noticed gardens in all sorts of spots—the most interesting being the one down the street in front of a house that’s being constructed. Seems the contractor has a green thumb. Another is a community garden in the front yard of a house around the corner from a friend. How does your garden grow? Please share.