I Ate My Front Yard for Dinner...at least some of it
As many of you know from reading this blog, about 10 years ago I tore op my teeny front lawn to plant vegetables and have never looked back. It gets the best sun and I realized that I would much rather grow and pick vegetables than I would grow and cut grass. I eventually started a small garden in the back of the house as well but the front garden always seems to do a little better. And this year I am surprised--but mostly pleased--at how well both gardens are doing (I re-fertilized the soil this year). It's doing so well that some things have come to fruition already...not all but some. And so I picked some vegetables and cooked them in oil and garlic (aglio e olio) and tossed them with pasta. And while I was meandering through my tiny front yard garden--with glass of red wine in hand (the neighbors are used to me by now)--and lifting leaves to see whats under them, I couldn't help but think of this article I read today and how ridiculous it is that some cities are not allowing a beautiful garden like this to exist. My mother, who came of age during WW II, told me that when she was young these city gardens--front and back--were called victory gardens. Growing your own food is a part of all of our past--whether you live in the city or country--and it's likely part of our future. The catch phrase today seems to be eat or shop local. I'll take it a step further and say this...grow it just outside your house and cook it where it grows. You can't get any more local than that. I'll get off my little vegetable crate now.
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