Hugs for Gardeners
The new big thing in gardening is something old -- heirlooms. Variety is part of the appeal of growing heirloom plants. Imagine growing tomatoes as small as your fingertip or weighing as much as two pounds each, colored various shades of red, yellow, white, purple, pink, orange, green, or even striped. How about eggplants with tiny fruits that look like green peas, or pole beans with red pods that grow up to two feet long?Now consider the joy of knowing that eighty years ago, Great-grandmother worked the soil to grow those same varieties and lovingly stirred them into soups and stews that fed the family and nurtured the collective soul as they were handed down as favorite family recipes. Perhaps the best part about growing heirlooms (besides the great taste) is the glimpse they offer into the past -- the connection with those who have gone before us.
Whether you save seeds and grow heirlooms or buy plants from the local nursery, gardening is about connections -- to the earth, to deep parts within yourself, to the past and the future. You may be an old pro from a long line of gardeners who passed on their wisdom or a neophyte just tentatively starting your f ... read full excerpt from Hugs for Gardeners ebook
