You know how sometimes you can be in love with the idea of something but not take any action on it?
That’s how I’ve been about gardening for a long time.
I live in a rental property, so outdoor gardening isn’t permitted. I could do it indoors except that we’re not allowed to drill holes for things like shelves or hanging planters, and the two cats pretty much prohibit having plant life any lower than head height.
But last month I heard about San Francisco ’s Kitchen Garden Project, which inspired me to rethink things. I realized that I could set up a free-standing shelf unit on our minuscule front porch. So I did that, and then I went to Hayes Valley Farm on 10/10/10 (the day of the initiative) to pick up my free seedlings and mulch.
One month later, here’s some of what’s growing so far!
I’m hoping, in particular, that the broccoli and the carrots make it to their full growth. The broc because it’s my favorite vegetable (well, okay, other than potatoes—preferably in chip form), and the carrots because they’re a tiny, round variety and I’m really curious to see what they look like! I promise I’ll post pictures of whatever grows.
Have you ever heard of Kickstarter? It’s an awesome website through which people and organizations can raise funds for their creative initiatives—they set a goal and write a web page about it, and then try to get enough pledges to fund the project. If they don’t make their goal, no money changes hands, but if they do, they can make some amazing things happen.
Yesterday I found out that Hayes Valley Farm, the volunteer-operated community farm where I got my free garden starter kit (and which, incidentally, is located on top of a closed freeway on/off ramp—the ultimate in recycling, how cool is that?) has only until Sunday to raise the money it needs to fund its continuing projects. As of this writing, they’re almost there!
If you’d like to check it out and maybe even pitch in a bit (if they go overtheir requested amount they get to keep that, too), here’s a link to their Kickstarter page. And here’s one to the farm itself. Where it’s highly likely I’ll be going back to volunteer and learn some more.
Meanwhile, I’m proud of myself. In years past, I would have felt the need to check out at least 3-4 books from the library on home gardening, study up on our local soil and weather patterns, do complex calculus to determine what pot size I’d need for each vegetable, create a detailed shopping list for the plants and supplies, etc., etc. before feeling confident enough to begin.
I love the fact that I was able to let go of the need to be “perfectly” informed and ready, and just wing it. It’s a liberating feeling, even for so small a project.
I don’t know what will finally emerge from all my pots, but it feels great—empowering yet tender at the same time—to nurture along some green, growing things. And if I’m lucky, I’ll get to eat at least some of them. When they hopefully will be tender. 
Turns out it really is possible to do things and have them work out (well, at least so far) without having a grand plan!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Michelle, I’m grinning from ear to ear here (oh, that rhymes – lol).
SO many parts of your post resonated with me:
gardening, ahhh – so cool to be part of that process;
the “In years past…” made me laugh because I did all those things (and more – I swear) 30+ years ago when I had my first veggie patch;
“In years past…” also brought to mind the 15 ft wide window I decorated with indoor plants (hanging and sitting on widowsill) the Winter after my first veggie garden…
Like an addict (addicted to perfection, in this case) I decided that – if a LOT of research and planning made for a great veggie patch (and it did) – then a WHOLE helluva lotta research and planning ought to work even better…
and so I bought a load of books, got more out of the library, researched and planned and tried to improve on my window-wall of indoor plants — and eventually killed them all (they’d BEEN thriving)—
it’s like the parable of the Perfectionistic gardener — lol — overthink/plan=death
Anyway – what I meant to say before I got all gabby – was congrats on your garden — can’t wait to see pictures as it keeps growing and enjoying your green (and non-perfectionistic) thumb!!!
Brilliant idea, btw – love how you found a way to do what your heart wanted!
Square-Peg Karen recently posted..Criss-Cross
Hi, Karen!
Oh, those poor plants! (chuckling) That makes me think of a sort of reverse story–back in college my roommate inherited a potted indoor tree (I don’t remember the details).
It sat on the floor near her desk, and it didn’t just get watered–that plant was fed everything from the leftover broth from her ramen noodles that she was too lazy to walk to the bathroom to dump, to small amounts of Dr. Pepper, to (on more than one occasion) the remnants of a beer bottle.
i kept thinking she was going to kill it. But that tree thrived like almost no other plant I’ve ever seen.
So much for research and perfectionism.
Michelle Russell recently posted..My New Garden No- Really Not a Metaphor
Hi Michelle,
When we finally do something that we have been ~intending~ to do for a long time.. it feels empowering… It`s like the action ignites a fire in us and we feel like yes – we are able to make things happen- because there is proof right before our eyes. That`s why I believe growing your garden feels so great. Kudos to you for taking action.
Blessings,
Eren
Eren Mckay recently posted..How to Improve Emotional Intelligence
Hi, Eren–I think you’re right. There’s a line in the chorus of a song by The Indigo Girls that says, “Gotta get out of bed, grab a hammer and a nail, learn how to use my hands…”
Not only does it feel great to finally get to something you’ve been intending and see/feel the results, but in our world of electronic data and virtual information, there’s something satisfying about doing something so physically tangible, too.
Oh, and you’ve reminded me I should post a picture of what happened to the broccoli I planted.