Gardening Dreaming

An evil thing came in the mail last week - a seed catalogue! Now I am thinking and dreaming about gardening all the time. I keep looking at the heirloom varieties and lust over them. I fantasize of having a large garden in my back yard. There is room enough, but I'd have to give up yard space for the kids, and frankly I am not sure I want to do that!!!

So, this year I have a list of ideas I'd like to tackle, and produce I'd like to grow:

• Tomatoes for canning/spaghetti. sauce. We just used up the last jar of my 2007 stash.
• Beets
• chard
• Onion and garlic
• Potatoes
• I'm not sure about beans, but in theory I love beans.
• Squash
• pickling cucumbers
• I'd be interested in trying raspberries
• Basil
• Oregano
• Carrots
• Sugar Pumpkins
• Spinach
• Jalapenos

Things we grew last year I'd be OK if we did not have this year: Peppers, zucchini (I like, but no one else does really ... and they are prolific and available for most gardeners anyway!) eggplant, peas (we like them - me only so so, but it is so much hassle to pick and shell them. I'll save my efforts for something else!) Watermelon and cantaloupe - so much space for so few fruits, lettuces - it seemed to turn bitter so easy. I guess that is it. I'd add in the pumpkins and pickling cukes for something new and interesting.

So, I want to make more spaghetti. sauce and salsa. I'd love to try my hand at pickling beets, and canning pumpkin for use all year long. And I'd love to make some more varieties of jam.

So, do I sound domestic enough for you? Scary!! But I love the idea of growing my own food and having it available all year long. MY food, not someone else's food. ...and if only I could have chickens for eggs .....