Vicarious agriculture…

My gardening at home has been confined to the raised herb beds for the kitchen garden.  A busy travel schedule interferes with the daily weeding, watering and staking that a well-managed garden demands.  So my 3/4 acre garden plot has been given over entirely to sunflowers this year.  They need no maintenance, and make me smile every time I look at them.

My produce requirements are being met by a local farmer.  His farm is 7 miles from us, and we’ve formed our own garden co-op with friends.  We buy the seed we want, each pay him $200 for his efforts, and come pick what we want, when we want it.  Or call ahead and have it picked for us, boxed and ready to go.  This week was arugula, tatsoi, French breakfast radishes, and mesclun greens.  All the heirloom varieties we want are in place, and organically raised according to our desires.  Most things are planted in 400 ft. rows, so we have an abundance of anything we want, with plenty left over to give away. 

Coming along are the Chinese long beans, lemon cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, broccoli, melons and greens that we so enjoy.

Short of sitting on the veranda with my mint julep, listening to the field hands singing at their labors, it doesn’t get much easier than this.