Forest of the Plains

I live and work in a county with a population just over 13,000. After living in Indianapolis, it's difficult to fathom that an entire county can have just 13,000 people in it! There are times when I stick out like a sore thumb in the country. Especially when I say I live in "rural Goessel" and start laughing. And no one else that lives around here laughs. (Goessel's population is about 500. You might say that living within the city limits also qualifies as "rural".)

I like to pretend that I know something about farming. I watched milking at John's uncle's dairy once. I read the ag section of the newspaper. An out-of-state relative will call and I'll volunteer the latest predictions for the wheat harvest. And I teach Jacob that farmers say, "I like green!" But in reality, I don't know anything useful about farming.

When I make the treck to Wichita, the largest city in Kansas & about an hour away, I also stick out. Especially when it's rained recently and my car is covered with mud from our non-paved roads. Sometimes the traffic gets heavier and my brain really has to shift gears. Not that the traffic is ever like Indy's 465 rush hour with bumper to bumper traffic! But, still, in my home county you can drive for miles without seeing another car.

It's an odd way to be. Not a country bumpkin, definitely not a city slicker.

This spring marks an important milestone. I am starting a garden. In an attempt to not be overwhelmed, my garden is 10x10. I plan to plant lettuce, spinach, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and melons. I plan to put the herbs, lettuce, and spinach in the flower bed by the front porch as a "kitchen garden". Aren't I fancy?

Tonight I purchased my first installment of plants:
Red Beauty Sweet Pepper
Golden Bell Sweet Pepper
Anaheim Chili
Yellow Pear Tomato
Sweet Million (red cherry tomato)
Mountain Fresh (red slicing tomato)
Old German (heirloom streaked red & green slicing tomato)
Cinnamon Basil
Dill
Peppermint

I plan to still get parsley and melons, but the nursery didn't have them tonight.

I have several goals for this garden:
*Be able to enjoy produce that tastes "real".
*"Think globally. Act locally." (be a good citizen of the earth)
*Make sure Jacob knows that food comes from plants and animals, not from WalMart.
*Not have to endure the looks of disappointment when people ask me about my garden and I tell them I don't have one. Because if you live on 18.5 acres everyone assumes you have a garden.

I'm not sure when it's safe to plant these things and there are supposed to be thunderstorms tonight, so the plants are all on the kitchen table. Note to self: figure out when things can safely be planted.

Did I mention that I've never had a garden before? And that the two tomato plants I tried to grow 3 years ago produced 1.5 tomatoes before they died?

We'll see how this turns out!