Dreaming of Spring

Last night, tucked beneath heavy quilts, two wool blankets and a down comforter, I dreamed of weather warm enough to start a garden. In my dream, we’d been granted three plots in the community garden and we grew tomatoes, corn, beans, berries, cucumbers and marigolds.

It was such a happy dream, and it’s got me thinking of spring. I’m not even sure our community has a community garden any longer, and, if it doesn’t have one, I’m in no position to start one. Truly, I’d be happy with a container garden on the patio.

There’s something utterly delightful about digging in the dirt. I love its richness, its moisture, its heavy scent. I even love the way dirt gets stuck under my fingernails.

I received a seed catalog the other day. I can’t remember the company that sent it, but it was filled with wonderful heirloom varieties. This evening I’ll heat a cup of tea and sit down with the catalog, carefully marking the seeds I’d like to purchase for this year’s container garden.

I am a big fan of seed saving and seed sharing, and we have some seeds left from last autumn’s rather failed closet garden. Still, there’s a few new plants I’d like to try this year particularly herbs.

It is a wonderfully delightful feeling to nurture a plant from seed to sprout to fruit. It’s an even better feeling to feed your family food you’ve grown. It’s immensely satisfying.

We live at 9,500 feet and winter lasts a long, long time. Understandably, gardening can prove difficult with such a short growing season. Yet, this summer I’m going to do my best to feed my family more home-grown foods while relying on our co-op and local farmer’s markets for supplementation. We might take part in a CSA depending on what’s available.

I can’t wait to get dirty.

January 18th, 2007