Our Paradise
Welcome to my tiny space in the world.
My family and I live within the city limits of Tallahassee, Florida. We live in a new subdivision with a fairly active homeowners association. Because of this, our front yard has been planted with edibles in disguise. My neighbors are always curious as to why I’m picking the holly berries (pequin peppers), pulling up sections of the ornamental grass (lemongrass), pulling out my plants and carrying them into the house in baskets (onions, garlic, lettuce), and cutting lots of things out of the flower bed (nasturtiums, violas, pansies, dianthus, rosemary, lavender, etc.). I’m sure I have been dubbed, “that crazy lady down the road.”
Funny thing is, the kids that live on our street are drawn to the plants. If they come over with their parents, I let them go into the backyard and pick some of their favorite veggies to take home. They LOVE it! I admit, I have the motive of trying to hook them on eating fresh vegetables and it is beginning to work. Three families on our street are now growing little patches of vegetables in their back yard and the children are eating it up.
As for my own family, I have two young boys and our garden has influenced them in ways I would never have imagined. They are as different as night and day, and it is fascinating how each of their personalities is inspired by something as basic as a kitchen garden. Even my husband has developed an affinity for certain plants and taken them on as his own children.
Our side and back yards are packed full of edibles that do not have to be hidden. These are our treasured areas and over the years will mature into our own little paradise.
Tiffanie