We grow stuff!

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I kill houseplants. The two I have kept alive have names. (Actually, there is a third that has been alive for a few years, but I don't want to jinx it...) 

The first spring Husband and I lived somewhere with a patio, I planted a tomato plant in a pot outside. I moved it to North Carolina with us, and it lived for two years in the garden. I was hooked. 

Then we moved into a big house with a big garden and I resumed my work at planting plants that die or make a terrific salad bar. But V was 15 months old the first season we could plant our garden, and I was determined to teach my kids the work food takes. 

That year came and went, and then another. We are in our third garden year, and it is amazing. 

Here is the story of our 2015 garden, the most rewarding garden yet. 

Our garden in February: 

It got worse. That piece of wood is just over one meter and we lost it for weeks.

We waited so long for anything that wasn't snow-covered. It came. And finally, the ground thawed enough and the frost dissipated, and we planted stuff. Actually, this year, the plants were largely planted by the kids. I gave a demonstration and then backed off. The result? Plants are on top of each other and thriving just fine. 

I think what surprised V the most was that we instantly didn't have food. She likens the chickens to the garden now, when we buy eggs. "Some day soon we won't buy eggs, just like we don't need to buy beans or peas today." 

What did we plant? Our asparagus, lavender, strawberries and rhubarb (which is not working) came back from last year. We went to a garden store for sorrel and herbs and the clerk showed V. the purple potatoes. V. responded "What other purple plants do you have?" 

Answer: purple asparagus, purple beans, purple sorrel, purple potatoes, purple tomatoes, purple carrots, purple lettuce. We added non-purple beans, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli,  jalapeño, and peas, for contrast. 

It grew. 

And it grew.

I've learned a lot over the years. We maintain an organic garden and I don't have time to weed. Thankfully there is diatomaceous earth and soon there will be chickens. You can't grow cucumbers close to peppers, and I can't grow cucumbers at all. It is all about companion planting. And fox pee? You'll need it if you want to grow beans or peas. Don't spray it on a windy day. Something keeps eating our broccoli. I cooked a few precious, hard-earned pieces the other day only to realize I had cooked some culprits with the florets. This isn't Survivor. No broccoli and caterpillars for us. 

So why do I have a garden?

Yesterday, we were playing outside and the girls wanted a snack. I told them to go pick some peas, and they thanked me for such a delicious snack. Of course I told them this was the effort of their hard work. 

Tonight, all the produce on the table (potatoes, two types of beans, and peas) was planted and picked by my girls. From seed to plate, they did it. 

A Summer Lunch

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 First, a confession. I like McDonalds.  It usually makes my stomach hurt, and I never want to think about what is in it or how bad it is for me and for so many more aspects of the world, but every once in a while, there is nothing like their fake burgers with plastic-y cheese.

The other day, we were in a bit of a time crunch and, given our impending trip, had nothing in the house that could be turned into lunch in a matter of minutes.  I went through the drive-thru (it is literally right down the street) at McDonalds.  I paid entirely too much for two adult meals and a happy meal, but there lunch was.

V. loves french fries, but when it came to the nuggets, she would not eat them.  The only "nuggets" she has known are homemade or Perdue, and she absolutely would not eat the McDonalds meal.  (So I ate them.)

*I just realized that my child has, more than once, helped her to the chicken chunks in our puppy's store-bought kibble.  What does that tell you about nuggets. Now I wish I hadn't eaten them...*

People are constantly complimenting V. on her pallet, how she eats - and loves - all food.  She'll happily eat everything from artichokes to zucchini with enthusiasm.  (Except McDonalds and canned black olives.)  But it isn't that she is a "good eater," it is that we started her eating a variety of things at a young age and haven't really given her the choice.

Husby and I believe whole-heartedly in Baby Led Weaning (in the British way, not the American "stop nursing" way) and we are starting to dole out smaller sized portions so that when V. asks for seconds, we can state "Finish your *insert whatever wasn't the absolute favorite of the dish* and you can have more *whatever it is she is after*."

And you know, it works for us.  I understand it doesn't work for everyone, but it is only first-world countries that boil and steam the vitamins out of whatever would have been healthy, puree whatever is left, and pass it off as good for baby.  We avoid feeding our children the very things we eat for fear of them being too spicy, too mature, or allergy-causing.  I'm not advocating feeding your 6-month old a chunk of sashimi dipped in raw honey, topped with wasabi, but babies can have spice and strawberries.  (In fact, recent studies suggest that by holding off you may be doing even more harm.)

That all being said, back to what this is really about.  My kid enjoying what is arguably one of the more delicious delicacies of summer.  She won't eat a hunk of mystery meat, but she will eat Caprese salad.

I didn't always enjoy raw tomatoes, but we don't let our food preferences shape our child's, so I've been eating more as they are around for her.

Then we got these fresh from a local farm (along with the cheese) and oh my.  We split three between us.  They were divine.


And could there be a lunch easier to make?  I did reduce the balsamic while slicing and dicing the rest.  I also use the olive oil and basil I would put on V.'s to make a little pesto.  Leaves are still difficult for her to chew.

A slight sprinkle of salt and some fresh pepper, and we're in the business.

Do not be fooled.  This was bite two or three.  By bite five, it was just too delicious to be slowed down by a fork.

Fortunately, there was more.  This time.  The next time she asked, it was gone, and she cried.  I may have cried a little, too.

I now know that my "issue" with raw tomatoes is not one of dislike.  I love tomatoes now.  But that is because we are eating local-fresh, organic, grown under the sun tomatoes.  If you ever believed hot-houses or grown in a galaxy far, far away were equal to local, natural foods, buy a beefsteak tomato at the grocery store and a tomato at your next farmer's market.  I promise, you'll change your mind.  It does cost more, but open your windows, ride your bike, or don't leave the shower water running so you can have a steamy bathroom.  You'll save money on your utilities to buy delicious tomatoes and the environment will thank you as well.

How does our garden grow?

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We have had some amazing weather the past few days.  AMAZING.  As in 70 degrees, sun shining, birds chirping, open all the windows and get the heck outside weather.

This, coupled with the fact that my daughter has roseola, has kept us close to home to enjoy this nice weather. (I don't want to share the love with other kids.)

I decided that some yard work was in order.  Since we bought this house in late fall, we have no idea what is planted in our yard.  The woman who once lived here was an amazing gardener who clearly had a most amazing flower garden before she became too ill to tend them.  There are many weeds and dead, dried grasses that need to be removed, but every once in a while we get a surprise from her:  

The only way you are ever going to get anything done in a garden with a toddler and without having a gate and living near a busy street is to involve them.  I have a million reasons why you should involve your kids in gardening, and to not need to chase after them constantly is one of them.  Free labor is another.

When you are only 25 inches tall, climbing into the garden box may be necessary.

So what do you teach your 13-month-old about gardening?

Since these flower boxes will soon be vegetable garden boxes, everything is being torn out.

Lesson 1: Tear out the dead stuff.  (I realize that I will inevitably regret this the day we learn the difference between tearing out dead stuff and tearing out the vegetable plants...)

We worked on vocabulary: stick, seeds, bird, soil, plant...

... and worm!

At some point it dawned on me that the last time the weather was this nice, V. wasn't really crawling. She's never really had the opportunity to explore outside.

I love teaching, and part of being a teacher is having plans and structure.  At first it was challenging to sometimes sit back and just follow her, or even "ignore" her so that she can build that knowledge on her own and define the world in her own way.  Once I started to just observe, though, I found it to be endlessly entertaining.

She was petting him through the door.

She showed all her discoveries to the cat.

Then we visited the goat next door, because after hearing him bleating all day, V. was very anxious to see him.

And that is how toddlers garden.

Fancy seed-starting kit it is not...

Pin It ... but it won't cost you $20 and will work just as well.

When I heard that indoor plants were part of the third grade curriculum where I used to teach, my heart stopped.  My coworkers had no way of knowing that I was a plant murderer, but surely by the end of this unit, they would.  As my friend tried to reassure me that the set-up was fool-proof, I was picturing my sweet, eager students with tears running down their faces, mourning their dead plants.

But my friend was right: unless you forgot to water them for a month, they weren't going to die.  And not just because they were brassica weeds, but because they came with a way of keeping the soil moist constantly, as delicate seedlings require.

After V. and I had spent all morning crushing organic material and folding it into our coconut fiber to make the perfect seedling soil, I decided I would construct some of these handy little contraptions.  Maybe this time, for the first time, my seedlings will survive long enough to make it to the garden.

Here is what you will need:

a plastic container with a lid (you will be cutting the lid) - take-out containers are sturdy and free

a piece of felt that is one-and-a-half times longer than your container (roughly)

scissors

a knife

Plants (can be in *plastic or fiber containers or cells)

First, cut a slit in the top of the container wide enough to fit the felt through.  I used the knive to pierce the plastic, then cut with the scissors.

 Second, saturate your felt by pouring water into the container.  Thread enough of the wet felt through the slit in the top to cover the entire top.  There should still be felt in the water in the container.  I inverted my tops, to keep the water from dripping down the sides.  It is in no way necessary to invert the top.

Last, arrange your pots so that they touch the felt.  In about an hour, the whole pot should be moist.  (See note below about plastic containers, if used.)

 Now, all you need to do is place them in a warm, sunny spot and make sure the base doesn't run out of water.  If the felt is dry, pour water over it and into the container.

 

*IF YOU USE PLASTIC CONTAINERS: cut a small strip of felt (about 1 inch long and 1/4 inch wide) per cell (if using connected cells) or individual container (like the above paper ones) and thread through the drainage hole in the bottom of the container.  The strip of felt must be able to touch the soil in the bottom of the container and the large piece of felt.  If there isn't a drainage hole, cut one.  It is easiest to do this before you fill the container with soil and seeds.