Eight years ago, I hated tomatoes. I would eat ketchup, salsa and tomato sauce, but never a plain, icky, tomato. Eww. I also hated to get dirty. So, I thought my mother was crazy when she suggested I grow tomatoes, she insisted I would like them if I grew them myself, she also insisted I grow heirlooms. I had no idea what she was talking about, but I was home with a preschooler and a toddler, what else did have to do? I went to the nursery and planted 5 heirloom tomato plants and the most amazing thing happened. I became a gardener. I also became a tomato lover. My tomato love is even stronger today, I love the taste, the colors, the different types of leaves, the smell of the leaves, the slight stickiness on my skin after I brush up against the leaves. I have a love affair with tomatoes. This year we will have 20 varieties. Yay! I can’t wait for the harvest!

So, at some point in all that tomato love, I started planting other stuff too. This year we are increasing the size of our veggie garden a second time, more than tripling it’s original size. Yippee! Almost all of the edibles are heirlooms, (I love the histories that they have) and they are all grown from seed. This year I am going to try to save seed. Fun.

I have also started to grow some flowers, and herbs for medicinal use. That is fun! My kids refer to my salves, and syrups as potions. It’s all good. My kids think nothing of coming down stairs at 9pm, asking for something for their mosquito bites and being sent outside with a headlamp and a bowl to collect plantain for a quick poultice.

I love my kids.

They are getting old enough to realize that I may be the nuttiest mom on the block.