Optimism is hard to come by these days. That’s obvious. But it’s poison to give in to the black clouds following us all around. Everyone has their own ways of reviving glimmers of hope. I tend to lean towards small things to bring my perspective back in balance (bike rides, painted toenails, uplifting movies, runs in the park, etc.) and I’ve found a new one: pale green things. Yes, kinda like the Mountain Goats song. Though, John Darnielle might depress the hell out of us most of the time, the song “Pale Green Things” is oddly uplifting and sweet. And I find real green things uplifting too.
I’ve never had a green thumb and because most of the people in my life are good with plants, I’ve never really had to try. Once, in college, I managed to kill a spider plant, one of those unkillable creatures, like cockroaches and Michael Jackson. John and I started dating just after that and, knowing he was great with plants, I couldn’t bring myself to admit it to him for months.
But this year, well, this year with all the crap surrounding contaminated food and my own pessimism with the current state of the world, I decided to plant food this year and make it grow. I will succeed.
So, two weeks ago I picked up a bunch of seeds and planted some of them inside (the others are root vegetables and will be planted right outside when the risk of frost has decreased.) This is the state of them as of yesterday. They are two weeks old.
Left to right, top to bottom we have basil, kale, orange cherry tomatoes, two squash plants, and a red cherry tomato. Not pictured warriors-of-hope include collard greens, parsley, and nasturtiums.
Will you be excited and optimistic with me, and if not in general about this? We can grow food. Pretty neat, huh?
I think I said this before, but I have a terrible memory (still waiting for the upgrade). You’re more than welcome to garden at our house. We’ll be planting in spring, and we have more than enough ground. We even put horse poop in it =)
Yup, I totally did say that before, as did Christina, on your last post. Damn you drugs and your side effects.
What beautiful little babies! Nice work.
You’re doing great! Everyone has to start somewhere. I was a beginner two years ago and I’ve had two great growing seasons so far. Each one was a great learning experience, and the mistakes are almost more fun than the successes, because of how much I learn from them.
I shall be excited & optimistic with you. Maybe you could post pictures of the dishes you make with those yummy healthy green things. I’m crap at growing anything– even my nails– but for the past four weeks I’ve been nurturing a huge amaryllis and it hasn’t died on me.
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