Fun with your garden

In 2008 I decided that a June Harvest Fest would be a fun dinner party. I approached my closest friends and suggested we each grow something in our garden that could be eaten or displayed at this dinner. Needless to say, the response was not as positive or enthusiastic as I had hoped. However, being an optimist, I pushed forward. I explained that we would choose recipes and then grow some of the ingredients for portions of our meal. The biggest rule was, there were no rules. If your crop failed, you could purchase the items needed. You just had to try.

The following was our planned menu:

A cucumber appetizer, with a seasoned cream cheese
Tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil, with balsamic vinegar and olive oil
Shrimp Ceviche (tomatoes, cilantro, green onions were from the garden)

Lettuce, tomato and carrot salad

The main course was a purchased meat along with the potatoes.

Dessert..... strawberry ice cream (strawberries from the garden)

Sounds great? Hah! There were failed crops from over watering, too much heat and of course, the dreaded pets. Each family shared their humorous horror stories. I must say, this was one of the best dinner parties ever. The households with the fewest crops have now blossomed into our most successful backyard farmers. And, last fall, our party grew, not only in the number of participants, but the bounty of our harvest.


A Gardener's World is not just about growing vegetables or plants at your home. It's about creating joy in our lives and in the lives of the people that surround us. It's sustainability and control, with enthusiasm. It's being pro-active in our daily lives, while enjoying some very basic elements, like dirt, water and food. If you want a semblance of change in your life, begin here. Join me for fun, adventure and purpose in "A Gardner's World".