By Cindy Pitts Gilbert Buford Weekly Illustrated May 11, 2016
My husband and have been growing a little garden for the
past several years. Our first cucumber
plant that grew cute little cucumbers made us so proud. We called it our baby
and posted it on social media like proud parents, then we ate it. What started as a home school project for my
kids, that they now will have nothing to do with has turned into a way of life
for my husband and I. I look forward to
spring every year and plan out what I'm going to plant each year. I enjoy going to local plant sales at local
nurseries as soon as the plants come in.
I always take a friend or two out to Growers in Loganville which is now
a tradition and based on the crowd, it is a tradition for a lot of Gwinnett
County. We also have to make a trip or
two to Creative Enterprises. I love supporting local growers and non-profits
like Creative Enterprises. If you haven't been there it is a wonderful place.
This organization is dedicated to assisting adults with disabilities
and others with barriers to employment in maximizing their potential. They have
multiple programs and services to help these adults develop skills to be as
independent as possible. If you haven't been there to get your plants you
really should visit. It really is a very
special place.
Our garden is small but we love eating the results of our
labor. There really is nothing more beloved
in the south than a home
grown tomato, to grow a garden without them would be, well a waste of effort. A large number of people I know who garden consider
it a labor of love. There is something so therapeutic about digging in the dirt,
making our own compost from kitchen scraps and then watching the blooms turn
into the literal fruits of our labor. We
love making homemade salsa, macaroni salads, adding our own fresh homegrown
herbs to our Italian dishes. Summer eating is so much fun, however if you play
your cards right and do a bit of prep and planning you can store up some of
that summer yumminess for winter soups, and dried herbs for teas. Have you ever
tried a nice lemon balm and peppermint tea, so soothing for a winter cold, or enjoyed
savory seasonings like rosemary, sage and thyme for crock pot cooking. Nothing
is more delicious than taking canned tomatoes, dried basil and oregano and
making your own homemade spaghetti sauce.
I don't consider myself a chef by any means, yet cooking something you
have grown somehow makes the experience so much more enjoyable.