Sowing the Seeds

BY MEGAN ARMSTRONG

I look forward to spring every year. It means the start of the growing season, the opening of Farmer’s Markets and the start of Ontario-grown produce.

As wonderful as it is to go to our local grocery stores in the dead of winter to pick up a pint of strawberries, I believe in seasonality. I believe in supporting the community around me and those that work so hard to provide for us during the seasons.

I also love to grow my own. I don’t have a huge yard by any means, but I do have the space to grow the little extras that look and smell great in my garden. I love the idea of walking out my back door to snip some herbs to add to a marinade or salad. I love the smell of a warm tomato fresh from the vine. It is because of these things that I plant herbs and tomatoes and anything that I believe my children will enjoy watching grow and then eating.

This year Kate and I went to our local garden centre, picked up our peat pots in their own hot house, along with the seeds she thought would be fun to grow. I have mixed thoughts on how our seedlings will fair once in the garden – Kate has all the faith in the world they will be fine.

We started broccoli, heirloom tomatoes, yellow grape tomatoes (which neither child will eat), zucchini, pumpkins,peppers and dill. We started the seeds a few weeks back and were amazed how quickly they sprouted.  Not all of them have sprouted – my guess is too much water or they were old seeds – regardless, the kids are happy with what has come up.

With the early warm weather that we have been experiencing for the past couple of weeks I am amazed by what has already been popping up in my garden and I am looking forward to getting out to clean up and add our seedlings to the landscape of my garden.

I will keep you up to date in upcoming posts…and comment on the blog to let me know how your garden is doing this spring!