vegies from my garden

I'm growing my own vegies for the first time in years. It is so much fun to go out in the backyard and pick some for my meal. It's also fun to give them away. Because we had so much snow and ice over the winter, I lost some plants in the backyard. So, I just planted some squash, pickling and lemon cucumbers, and lots of tomatoes in areas where the plants had died. They are growing like crazy! I actually have to trim the plants back.

It reminds me of riding on the train during my recent trip to Italy (spring '09 trip - vegies in photo are in a bowl I bought from a lovely gentleman in Deruta, Italy - fabulous ceramics there). The rail lines go along the rear of homes where, in spaces of all shapes and sizes, people were getting the soil ready for planting. Many yards also had chickens. It was lovely to look at.

So many people are growing their own vegetables in Portland. Wherever you look - in all types of neighborhoods - vegetables are being grown in available space. Yesterday I walked by a house that hadn't picked their sweet, orange cherry tomatoes - there were tons on the plants. It's just criminal! I wanted to go up to the door and ask if I could pick them. I'd give them away - just so they don't rot on the vine.

...enjoy the sunshine!