Sixteen Nine-Patches

I had a great uncle who planted vegetables like tomatoes and squash near the foundations of his home and around the edges of his lawn, where most people would put decorative (but useless) bushes and flowerbeds. The result was pretty and productive at the same time. For years his brother-in-law kept a prolific apricot tree behind the house that did double duty as a shade tree. You don’t have to have several acres to grow some of your own food. You just need a bit of imagination. Carrots, potatoes, beets and strawberries do well in pots on the patio. I’ve even grown herbs, salad greens and cherry tomatoes in my kitchen window – in the dead of winter. I don’t know if “growing my own” saves me any money. But my diet is more varied and healthier than it would be without a garden. I’m more self-reliant. I’m getting more exercise, and I’m having fun.