How does your garden grow?  

                               with herbs and squash and pepper plants and Bonnie Bells all in a row!

Back in January while we were experiencing the doldrums of a bleak, cold gray winter I was tagged with a MeMe that asks you to share seven things about yourself and pass it on to seven of your friends that you would like to learn more about.

Below is an excerpt from my MeMe post  where one of my seven things was that I love to garden

Got Broccoli?  We have a wonderful backyard garden where I grow herbs, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash, broccoli and whatever strikes our fancy.  One year we had so much broccoli we were giving it away everyday!  I felt like Bubba Gump except instead of shrimp it was broccoli...broccoli casserole, broccoli soup, broccoli salad, broccoli with cheese.......but is was really yummy!

And so the story goes......

And now it is Hot Sunny Summertime....with Sticky Humid Sweaty Days blessed with occasional Summertime Rain Showers!

                                    .......AND A BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOMING VEGETABLE GARDEN!

As you can see this is NOT my first rodeo and over the years I have learned a few things that make this hobby a little easier and more enjoyable.  My philosophy is that back yards are for enjoyment and that we should use them to the best of their ability.  You do not have to own forty acres to have a very nice and productive home vegetable garden.  And no tractors, plows or tillers are needed!

We designed a very eye appealing raised bed garden formed with retainer wall block and bottom filled with regular top soil and then topped off with some good gardening soil.  The beds are about knee high so there is NO back breaking bending over necessary!  And the climbing vine plants do great on the fence!

Don't you just L O V E my Garden Fairy!  She is blowing magical fairy dust over my garden so that it will produce bountiful crops!  And the potted plants on either side of her....MINT!  One is chocolate mint great for deserts and frozen drinks and the other is regular mint......well that is for MOHITO'S of course! A Mohito basically is a drink made with limes, mint, simple syrup, Rum and club soda.   If you have not had one of these they are very tasty and my friend has the best recipe...

MOHITO'S with MOJO!

1 Lime cut in 1/2 then 1/2 again

Muddle in glass with 3 - 4 sprigs of fresh mint

Add a splash of pineapple juice, 2 packs of Splenda, 1 Jigger of Bicardi Lemon Rum, 1 splash of Apple Pucker

Fill glass with ice and top off with club soda

Now if that don't get your MoJo  on nothing will!

Garden....what garden.....Oh that's right we were discussing the garden!

And here we are in the midst of June smiling as our first blossoms began to show the fruits of our labor!  The tomato bushes are becoming thick with luscious green tomatoes.  Oh my!  Do we wait for them to ripen and enjoy those fabulous down south juicy tomato sandwiches or pick them quick and slice them up, dip in egg and flour and fry them in the skillet for those "Fried Green Tomatoes" that made the Whistle Stop Cafe famous? 

Other items of natures bounty included in our garden this year are strawberries, crookneck summer squash, eggplant, zucchini squash, cucumbers, onions, bell peppers and the herb garden with rosemary, oregano, basil, thyme, garlic, chives and cilantro.

Are you an avid gardener?  Have you had those little thoughts of tilling the soil and planting the seed and watching a plant grow into a beautiful leafy plant loaded with veggies?  So what are you waiting for?  Get on out there and get started.  It is not too late to get something going this year.  It is not an expensive hobby and you actually SAVE money on your grocery bill!  And the taste sensation is beyond compare....you will be amazed at how much better veggies taste straight out of the garden.

There are lots of good books on the subject and you can find answers to anything on the Internet these days.  See the attached Planting Guide For Home Gardening In Alabama with a complete Alabama Vegetable Garden Planting Chart published by The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) that offers educational programs in horticulture.

Another great service available to Alabamians is the Jones Valley Urban Farm  a community-based non-profit organization in Birmingham, Alabama. Utilizing over 3 acres of vacant downtown property, JVUF grows organic produce and flowers, educates the community about healthy food, and helps make Birmingham a vibrant community.

This Saturday June 20 they are sponsoring the southern slow food fair and Summer Solstice Celebration.

"Our visitors will experience first-hand where their food comes from, how it is prepared, and how it tastes giving them a true hands-on experience," says Jones Valley Urban Farm Director, Edwin Marty. Attendees will taste their way through the farm on locally brewed beer, barbecue, bread, cheese, coffee, and more while enjoying cooking, composting, and craft demonstrations while enjoying MUSE OF FIRE's Shakespearean minstrel acts as you go.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC-TV, MyFoxAL.com) - Jeh Jeh's checking out where you can catch some tasty Southern home cooking. The Jones Valley Urban Farm will hold their Southern Slow Food Fair and Summer Solstice Celebration on June 20, 2009. For more information, visit their website at http://www.jvuf.org/events.html

Jeh Jeh Live: Southern
Food Fair

CLICK LINK ABOVE TO VIEW JEH JEH

Or maybe you just have someone in your family that has experience and can give you some pointers.  I have one of those....just ask and he knows!  Yep they are pretty handy folks to have around!

So join me in this fulfilling hobby of gardening and be sure to stop back by and share with me YOUR stories of success and failure (oh yes there is some of that too!).  Two years ago I had broccoli coming out of my ears and last year it did not make at all. 

And I did not even get to the cooking part.....but I guess that is another story in itself. 

So stay tuned for the

"JOYS OF COOKING HOMEGROWN!"

Did I hear someone mention that they don't have a backyard?  Well I guess I can help you with that too!

My specialty when I am not gardening is selling houses with backyards! 

Give me a call!  I would love to help you!

About the Author

Debbie Hutchins a Certified Residential Specialist has been a licensed Realtor since 1987.  Serving the Greater Birmingham Area and specializing in Shelby County Debbie is available to assist you with your real estate needs.  We hope you have enjoyed reading and hope you will come back!  You may also subscribe to "debs doodles" and have it delivered to your email! And as always, you are welcome to search the MLS through Debbie's Re/Max website.    All phone calls are welcome!    You can reach Debbie via her cell phone at 205-368-2474

All data contained within is deemed correct however, RE/MAX First Choice and/or its Sales Associates are not responsible for errors and/or omissions. Prices are subject to change without notice.