If Anything Grows It Will Be A Miracle

Thanks in part to the Barbara Kingsolver book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,  we’re attempting a little raised bed gardening this year.  I have never grown a single vegetable in my life, and I usually kill any kind of plant that comes into my home.  But I did attempt a perennial bed in the front last year, and everything seems to be coming back this year, so I’m taking that as a good omen.  Mike scored some points toward husband of the year for building the bed and filling it with soil, with bonus points earned for not shoveling a load of dirt on me as I took pictures while he was toiling away and made comments like, "Boy, this sure is a lot of work for someone who probably won’t eat one thing that grows in here."

So far Elena and I have planted Tom Thumb lettuce (a butterhead variety), baby carrots, and 2 red pepper plants.  We bought some heirloom tomatoe plants, too, but my neighbors (who actually know what they’re doing) have warned me over and over not to plant them until after Mother’s Day.  We’re also going to try sunflowers, green peppers, cucumbers and green beans.  If all else fails, you may see the raised bed converted into a giant sandbox next year.