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Growing a Vegetable Garden. And Sharing the Bounty

Home Garden Cilantro Box

There is no doubt summer is here! Hallelujah! Well, kind of. I’m so thankful for the seasons, and all they bring and beautiful things we enjoy from their personalities. But summer is probably my least favorite time of the year. It’s hot, humid, streets are crowded, airfare sky rockets, and the hustle and bustle is just a bit overwhelming sometimes. Spring, fall, and winter? Yes, bring them on all day, every day. Summer… meh. I can take it or leave it. Until we get to benefit from the temperature and the natural course of life.

This spring, as we enter summer today/tomorrow, has been extremely busy with a plethora of projects and fantastic work, both professionally and personally. The biggest personal one at home has been building our first ever garden! Oh my goodness me, how exciting. The yield has been so satisfying and delicious to say the least. But.who.knew.so.much.work.goes.into.this.right.here.??? 

What?!

If you’re a Flanboyant Eats reader you know this isn’t our official first garden. My parents started one in the backyard a few years ago. They were only potted herbs, though. But that planted the seeds to grow a real one.

I know I’m meant to live on a farm. Own a ranch with lots of horses. Maybe some cattle; not too many though. Some chickens that hatch eggs. Have the cutest Wellies and finally have an appropriate environment to wear my real Stetson cowboy hats. Oh because yes, I have three from 12 years ago.

This idea of living on a farm has always attracted me, but it’s become more and more poignant in the last 4-6 years as my work in the culinary field have taken me to dairy and beef farms out west, in Mexico and France, where I’ve mingled with farmers and cattle. I’ve seen some nitty, gritty stuff. And I’ve been sharted on. In all the ding, dung, and cow carcasses, I’m still all about it.

This city girl will go country in a minute.

But until that happens, a home grown garden will keep the dream alive.

Cucumber Wide Angle

This is all my dad’s work, really. I’ll be totally honest. I’ve just supported him and helped me him here and there, consulting, watering, cleaning, cutting, and storing. Even in that, I was unaware of the amount of work it involves to grow just 12 crops.

Cucumber grows wild and out of control.

Radishes don’t like to cooperate. They aren’t growing really big.

Parsley and cilantro dance really well together and behave so nicely.

Garlic? We have no idea what’s she’s thinking.

Collards are flirting with us.

Scallions are show offs.

Tomatoes are MIA.

Garden Bounty

Fennel has disappeared as if we never planted her. 

Onions? What? Who cares. She’s been out. 

A buttery lettuce came out of nowhere but so tasty.

This Swiss chard is scrumptious.

Homegrown lettuce

And a few more I’m forgetting to mention.

So while it’s all been wonderful tending to the soil and learning as we go, fixing our irrigation, adjusting our mini landscape to accommodate for proper lining, and praying for water in moderation, and building some barriers so the deer can keep away, it’s been some work. We’ve been challenged with figuring out some mysterious occurrences along the way. Like trying to diligently identify what creatures are tearing up the cucumber and collards. We’ve not figured that one out yet.  So we pulled them before they ate them. Rather us than it, right?!

And more recently, I did properly conclude the white webby stuff on the top layer of the soil is nothing but mold due to moisture saturation, ie. too much rain. We got slammed last week. That just means we have to go back to adjust our draining system. Again.

See! It’s not all just plant and pull.

This is no joke.

Radish Crop Tight

BUT! The most important thing is that we’re growing our own food, though a small amount, comparatively speaking, and we’re putting our food on our table, knowing exactly where it’s coming from.

And that’s worth it all.

Now it’s just time to share our haul with family and friends, because surely, the four us here at home can’t possibly eat all of this (it’s way more than the pictures suggest), before it goes bad. But I’ve been having equal fun teaching my had how to store fresh vegetables and herbs.

And what a great father/daughter project!

That’s priceless.

A happy Cuban in DC, playing the part of a true campesino.

Herrera Garden Collage

A proud Cuban in DC showing off his crop!

Dad with Crop Bounty

A humble Cuban in DC, acknowledging the work full-time farmers put in to make sure we get quality foods.

Bren's Dad el campesino

And this is a partial view of our garden, planted at the entrance of our driveway, for all our neighbors to enjoy as they walk their dogs in the morning or take a relaxing evening stroll.  It’s a great conversation starter before and after work! They all want to know when to expect their goodie bags.

Wide Shot of Garden

I’m so, so proud and excited for my dad. It’s his therapy and his idea of beautifying their house. Plus, my dad is a salad snob and now there is NO excuse for not having a fresh one every day. I had my first one two nights ago and I just devoured it. What a difference.

Welcome to Herrera Gardens. Where Life is Good!

** Make sure to read my new magazine B! Inspired, a lifestyle magazine for the person looking to live the best life! Our preview/soft launch issue now online and available for download.

Eat well, love unapologetically, pray with true intention, and take care of yourself.

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71 thoughts on “Growing a Vegetable Garden. And Sharing the Bounty

  1. Lovely garden. I had no idea you guys were into that. And in such a big city. I wish we could do that here in Atlanta. Send me some of that cilantro!

  2. You are amazing! This is going to take your recipes to another level. I love cooking with my farm share CSA veggies they are so fresh and delicious.

  3. Dad did such a great job with the garden. At least he had you there to help along the way. Mostly eating, right! The cucumbers are the best!

  4. Growing a garden is not easy, but it is such a fascinating work. Gardening calms me down, I have already ordered everything I need here https://www.gardenology.eu/, and I will also take it seriously. I also plan to plant small fruit bushes or herbs among other flowering plants. Lots of herbs and fruit bushes are nice to look at, and you can use things from your own garden when cooking.

  5. Growing vegetables is quite interesting and exciting, especially if you like to do physical labor and do something with your own hands. Some vegetables, such as Beijing and Brussels cabbage, lettuce, celery, and parsnip are a little fussy in their care, sometimes it is easier to buy these vegetables on the market than to do this troublesome business. But you are doing great! Just recently I read an article on how to grow eggplant here – https://krostrade.com/blog/eggplant-growing-stages/. You might be interested. I will be happy to help 🙂

  6. 467559 882444I discovered your weblog site internet internet site on the internet and appearance some of your early posts. Continue to keep in the excellent operate. I just now additional increase your Rss to my MSN News Reader. Seeking toward reading far a lot more from you locating out at a later date! 188276

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