Every June, without fail, I have stood in my newly finished and finally planted garden, exhaled… and instantly thought about what I will do differently next year. Gardening, a hobby for me, has always gotten the best of my “wouldas” and “couldas”. I have spent an unreasonable amount of time looking back at my garden with squinted eyes and wondering if the tomatoes were too close, were the nasturtium too shaded, did I plant enough squash for me to gorge-out on blossoms for weeks on end(??).
I inherited my anti-zen/not-in-the-moment gardening from my Grandpa Harry, who I would watch string and restring tomatoes, space and re-space his marigold and mint deterrents as they fought a turf war with one another, and assess every bite of his first-born tomato with consideration of the grow lights and soil amendments that would be needed for next year’s fruit to outdo the flavor of this year’s.
Everyone’s approach to gardening has been varied and reflective of their own needs, from feeding their families to having something beautiful to look at. Grandpa Harry started gardening when he was a little boy, growing up during The Great Depression in Kentucky. His memories of that time involved him and his mom, Hattie, in their garden together, her being so happy with each fruit blossom and its resulting bounty. His own garden was an homage to that time.
I think most of us are approaching this year’s gardening season with the spirit of Great-Grandma Hattie, we want to secure nutrition for ourselves and the ones we love. To quote Audrey Hepburn, “To grow a garden is to believe in tomorrow”. This once hobby for so many of us may now have a deeper meaning that provides us with a new connection to our ancestors and their need to provide nutrition and a good life for their family and friends. And while I embrace the spirit of Great-Grandma Hattie, I hope my own little boy will remember this time with fondness, in the spirit of his Great-Grandpa and he and I can cheer together as our 2020 garden flourishes and blooms.
We at New Morning Market have been delighted to see so many seeds, herbs and vegetable plants travel off to your homes. And we’d love to hear about your stories and adventures in gardening and how this year has changed your approach and perspective.
We’ve published our Garden Guide online at https://www.newmorningmarket.com/garden-guide/ so you can easily access advice, tips and tricks. Because this year, it feels like it matters more than ever to be sure your tomatoes are nicely spaced, your nasturtium has happy amounts of sunshine, and you get all of the squash blossoms your little heart desires.
By Julie Droege, New Morning Market’s Marketing Director.
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