Year of the Veggie
It seems like 2009 will be the year of the vegetable. Seed sales are up. Nurseries are selling out of veggie starts as soon as they arrive. People (including me!) are digging up their front yards so they can grow more food. Theories abound on why all this is happening. People want local food. They want to save money. They are concerned about pesticides on conventional crops. Yes, yes, and yes. These are all reasons why we like to grow our own food. But most analysis completely leaves out a very compelling reason why people sow their own carrots and plant their own tomatoes: it is fun! Really fun!
So in the honor of all the gardens out there—and all of the fun that will be had in them—I have decided to share some decidedly amusing illustrations by the wonderful Erica Mulherin. I love Erica because she clearly doesn’t take her food too seriously. Thank goodness! Her illustrations make me smile every time I see one. I’m particularly in love with her tomato character in the top illustration. Don’t you think he looks like a garden variety Tony Soprano?
And the carrots crack me up…especially because planting purple carrots is on my to-do list for today!
To check out more of Erica’s illustrations, you should definitely head over to her website, and while you’re there be sure to take a peek at her blog, where she posts photos that inspire her and writes about what’s happening in her garden and her kitchen.
I SO agree…our weekend was spent building our raised beds, chicken coop and compost pile. I am really feeling the “back to the land” mentality. I guess that is because it is our first year with a yard all our own! I couldn’t be happier!
April 27th, 2009 at 12:09 pmI’m so HAPPY this is the “Year of the Veggie!” This is the first year I’m going to grow tomatoes and artichokes from seed in my own greenhouse and cold frame.
April 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pmNext year, CHICKENS!
thank you some much for sharing …
April 28th, 2009 at 4:05 amChristine–Congrats on your first yard. Isn’t it fun?
Robin–I’m growing artichokes, too. But I have to buy my seedlings since my greenhouse sadly only exists in my imagination right now.
April 28th, 2009 at 8:51 amFor what it’s worth, and on short notice, I am speaking this Saturday at 2:30 on microfarming and FOODSCAPING at the Junior League of Olympia Gift and Garden event at Saint Martins College down here in the South Sound. I will be covering topics such as raised bed production, Imported soil qualities and choices, succession planting, varietal selections, season extension, “sharecropping” in neihborhood, and integrating chickens into the landscape. Also Kirsten and I will have a demonstration FOODSCAPE in the outdoor area of the show all weekend. We have a nifty portable chicken pen that goes in the veggie garden with runs that occupy the pathways between raised beds. We will have a few ladies with us… Hopefully they wont be to shy to lay eggs, and hopefully the weather cooperates a bit!!
April 28th, 2009 at 12:53 pmOpps I submitted before I left the event website
April 28th, 2009 at 12:56 pmhttp://www.jlolympia.org/pages/giftgarden.htm
Paul–What a fun event! I wish I could make it but we have plans this weekend. Glad to hear that you and Kirsten are doing good. My girls that I got from you guys are still happy, healthy, and laying lots of eggs
April 28th, 2009 at 1:11 pmThese are a lot of fun!
April 28th, 2009 at 2:12 pm[...] Monday I had a guest blog appearance over at Diggin Foods. Willi was so gracious and kind to allow my vegetable illustrations to grace her page. Yesterday [...]
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 pm