Backyard Garden Plans

Baker Creek Rare Seeds

North Little Rock, AR.

My mom is an amazing woman.  She studies the Word of God like no one else I know.  She exhorts and encourages thousands of women through her say-it-like-it-is brand of writing.  She also homeschooled me throughout most of my growing up years and was into organic before it was cool.  If I can be half the mom she was to me growing up, I'll be doing good. 

I have the fondest memories of gardening with her when I was young.  We lived in New Jersey until I was 7, and we had two raised beds in our large, flat backyard.  We grew everything.  Beans, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, strawberries, squash, flowers--it was basically heaven for a little girl who was obsessed with The Secret Garden.  The smell of cold dirt still makes me feel more alive than almost anything.

I've been dreaming of having my own garden since I moved out on my own to Nashville years ago, and this is the year I'm going to start!  There is nothing like eating food that you grew, nurtured and harvested yourself.  I truly believe it's what we were created to do--to care for the earth and (quite literally) eat the fruit of our labor.  Now, I haven't gardened in decades, and I can't seem to keep my houseplants alive, but I'm hoping that it's due to the fact that I don't get around to watering them enough when I'm on tour.  At least with a veggie garden I don't have to be the one to make it rain! :)

Here is what I'll be planting:

- pickling cucumbers

- cherry tomatoes

- golden beets
- chioggia beets (pictured above...aren't they pretty?)

- purple carrots
- atomic red carrots (pictured below) 

- celery

- kale

- two types of lettuce

- red and yellow onions

- strawberries

- watermelon

- basil

- cilantro

- Italian parsley

- wild thyme

- catnip for our kitty with no name

- and lots and lots of flowers that attract bees and butterflies! 🌻🐝

Baker Creek Rare Seeds

We're even planting a bit of cotton, so I can show my little ones where their clothes come from.  I think it's important to instill in our children a good understanding and appreciation for where things come from.  The earlier we start this the better.  I know that using our hands and our sweat and our time to grow food that we could have just bought at the grocery store will give them valuable lessons that no book could ever teach.  I can't wait to get started.

Baker Creek Rare Seeds 

Love,

Francesca

P.S. All of the seeds I'm buying are from Baker Creek Rare Seeds.  They aren't sponsoring this post, I just have heard great things, and I'm excited  to try them!  Their rare, heirloom seeds haven't been contaminated by Big Brother, and that is something I am happy happy happy to pay for.  Check them out here.

P.P.S. Aren't those Mother of Pearl Poppies above just gorgeous?  I can't wait to plant some!