Community Garden: Shades of Green

A little over three weeks ago, I put my first plants into my new community garden plot. The little seedlings looked small and feeble outside the comfort of their little black plastic starting trays, so all I could do was cross my fingers, water daily, and hope they’d survive.

And survive they have. My little plot is now blossoming into dozens of shades of green. Tiny, pale green orbs have appeared on my adolescent tomato plants. Deep green leaves rimmed in violet are bursting daily from my stems of okra. Anaheim peppers, jalapeños, cucumbers, and parsley are about to reach their harvest points. The basil is growing so quickly I’ve already harvested enough for three batches of pesto (recipe coming soon, promise). And remember the leeeetle baby sunflower sprouts?

I’m excited. And so much more is on the way.

Zucchini, for example.

Best thing I’ve learned so far: if you are thinking of starting a garden and are feeling a little insecure about it, plant a zucchini.

O. M. G.

The rest of the garden is also doing pretty well, but the zucchini is the real confidence builder. It took a few days for this guy to get its footing, but man, once it did, zooooooom. It’s a jungle.

As consumers, we often see fruits and vegetables only in gleaming, multi-colored rows on grocery store shelves or in little blue cartons at the farmers market. It’s exciting to meet the green leafy plants that make that bounty possible.