2020 is an opportunity for a new year, a new “chapter”, (as my Dad would say), and new opportunities. One of my personal resolutions this year is to try and grow things.

Last year was my first foray into growing veggies, and short of mistaking escarole seeds for romaine seeds, (don’t ask how, I really don’t know!) the garden had moderate success. We harvested loads of beets and overbought the tomato plants, so we were swimming in red sauce.

I loved it.  I really loved it.  The evening water became a time to meditate and reflect and reconnect with the earth.  Hippy-ish for sure, but I really did reconnect. It was calming.

This year I have already laid out my West Coast Seed catalog planting schedule, and polled the family on the veggies they want to see.  I am excited.  We are setting up the greenhouse in time for February, in hopes of growing little seedlings for transplant later.  

This is an opportunity for me.  An opportunity to both work on my self-care, and grow a little food for the family.  I am even foraying into houseplants.  For years I swore off of them, my only talent being how fast I could kill them.  And now I am studiously trying to grow an avocado from a seed, (any tips?  Still nothing, and it’s been 3 weeks)  and attempting to keep a birthday orchid alive until, well, my next birthday.

Our mild west-coast climate means I am already seeing snowdrops, and the tops of the daffodils outside.  I love it.  I love watching the fresh green shoots push through the earth and lengthen into something I forgot I had planted.  It makes me feel like I am succeeding at something for me.

I look forward to this year of growth, in a lot of ways.