The Return of the Garden

I received our first delivery of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) produce! Spring greens, baby turnips, and radishes. I was thrilled with the baby turnips; I sauteed them quickly, tops and all, with a little salt and pepper, and enjoyed them for breakfast.

It sounded like Farmer Jay had a problem securing the farm land, which messed up his planting schedule. It was all worked out, but due to the lack of produce this week from the plot, he distributed veggies out of his backyard garden! I'm already impressed. I can't wait to meet this guy.

In one of his soliloquies on North Dakota, Clay Jenkinson (who I have a not-so-secret crush on) said that one of the most Jeffersonian aspects of this great state is the backyard garden. For the past few decades, I feel that there has been a general trend away from gardening in the Midwest, but get the tiller ready, because the comeback is here and now. Much like the victory gardens of WWII, Americans are finding the garden again. Why?

Because the garden helps us reclaim our independence from the economic forces that have made us all feel vulnerable lately.

Because the garden is health and vitality. It doesn't get any fresher than the backyard. Period.

Because the garden is tradition, recalling our memories of eating garden peas straight out of the pod at grandma's house.

Because the garden is connection to the earth with all its abundance and beauty.

Because there is no better scent than freshly tilled dirt, new tomato and basil plants, and the promise of rain in the air.

Because it just feels right.