The How Does Your Garden Grow?
Nathan Leal - April 30, 2008

Well... how is your garden growing? Have you started planting yet?  Still tilling the soil?

If you have, great! If you have not started your garden yet, why haven’t you?

I Don’t Feel Like I Have a Green Thumb

So, lack of confidence is causing your delay. I understand. We have all been there.

Inexperience or even a lack of gardening knowledge can cause many newbie gardeners to put it off.

But I want to encourage you. We were all beginners at one time….in everything! The first time you till the soil and put those tiny seeds in the ground can seem a little daunting.

But you can do it. So start with something simple like lettuce and radishes.  There is nothing like seeing the sprouts coming up to get you into the gardening spirit.

Gardening takes practice, education and a willingness to get a little sweaty and dirty. But it is the fun kind of getting dirty. There is a satisfaction that comes with gardening that is unsurpassed.

If you need some knowledge on gardening, do some research on the internet, or go to your local library and pick up a few books on the subject. There are many methods out there. Depending on your location and space, several methods will work. You just need to find the one that suits your personality and needs.

Personally, I like to mesh the “square foot method” with companion planting.  It uses minimal space with good results. There are many websites on this method. Just Google it.

Benefits of Food Gardening

There are many benefits to having your own garden for food.

Gardening is honest work that does the body good.  Who needs to spend money at the gym when you can garden? Pulling weeds is a great cardio / muscle toning exercise. And speaking of health, you will have a natural bounty of fresh vegetables.

You will have fresh and inexpensive, organic food. But the term “organic” must be qualified because it depends on the pesticides, (yuck) that you choose to use or not use. This will take research on your part also!

But still the benefits are many. Your family has the privilege of eating a wider variety of vegetables.

If you Home school, this will expose your children to the science of agriculture. So, be sure to involve your kids. Give each one a small plot to grow their favorite vegetable.

Now don't get me wrong, it is hard work. But for the hard work, there is a special reward that comes with gardening. It is a reward that is felt deep down in your soul.

A successful gardener can look down at their dinner table and know that they partnered with God and ACTUALLY put food on the table and enjoy the work of their hands and the sweat of their brow.

Also, to know that the food you are serving has not been irradiated or doused in chemicals is a great feeling.

I cannot explain it. Perhaps it is the knowledge that you are doing something to provide for your family or friends.  Gardening is rewarding.

I have tasted that feeling, so has my teenage son and my wife.  My children will eat any vegetable that they have grown. For snacks they do not grab a bag of chips. Instead, they grab some fresh green beans or sliced up cucumbers.

"What is for dinner?" I have asked my wife.  "Depends," she says. "What’s ready for picking?"

Then comes the fun part, we walk back to the garden area. 

Tonight, it looks like salad with lettuce, tomatoes, banana peppers, and onions.

The main course looks like zucchini, cabbage, carrots, and onions in a stir fry with chicken and rice!

The sweat of my brow was worth it.

Yes, gardening is a great reward.

So how does you garden grow?

Get to it!

Nathan Leal -- A Watchman
May 14, 2008