Today is Earth Day which I did not know when I planned this post, but how aptly timed for my post about gardening!

As I get older, I am drawn to gardening more and more. When you cook often, you really begin to appreciate ingredients in a meaningful way. Since I haven’t been going to my weekly farmer’s markets, I have been picking up farm boxes with the most beautiful produce. It made me start to think about our access to food and when it is taken away or limited.

An article appeared in the New York Times about victory gardens. In the article, they talk about how 20 million victory gardens were planted in the United States during World War II as food supplies were in short supply. Last year I started to dip my toe into growing my own fruits and vegetables and this year I have been planning to grow even more.

Since I live in an urban setting, I first started with pot planting, which anybody can do. Whether you have space to do it in a yard, back patio, or even some back steps or a window sill.

Last year, I grew tomatoes, peppers, and lettuces. I have potted citrus trees and this year they produced their first lemons. I always have herbs (basil, mint, thyme, and sage) since they can grow year-round in California.

This year, I have started sowing some seeds from Row 7 and Johny’s Seeds. I plan on transplanting these to cedar boxes to continue growth and will continue to document my progress. Below, I have listed some of my favorite sources to get inspiration and instruction, along with some of my favorite garden tools.

There is forced patience that comes with gardening, as you tend and tweak what needs to be done to your little environment. I love snipping a few flowers to put in a lonely vase or picking some fresh basil (that I grew!) to finish off a pasta dish I have on the stove.

Growing something means investing in the future and that is an uplifting thought at the moment.