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My neighbor Janet grows beautiful romaine lettuce in her backyard garden every spring and fall. Last year, she knocked on my door with a problem. “I harvested six heads of romaine yesterday,” she said. “And … Read more
A few years back, my friend Lisa from our community garden in Seattle called me in frustration. She had just spent $6 on a tiny bunch of bok choy at the grocery store. Six dollars … Read more
Last spring, my neighbor Dave pulled me aside at our community garden. He had a confession. “I’ve been growing lettuce for three years now,” he said, looking a bit embarrassed. “But I always thought it … Read more
Last summer, my neighbor Karen knocked on my door in a panic. She’d just started keto and was staring at her garden beds like they’d betrayed her. “I grew all these beautiful vegetables,” she said, … Read more
Have you ever brought home a beautiful, fresh bunch of cilantro, all ready to make your tacos or curry amazing, and two days later it’s a sad, slimy mess in the fridge? Yeah, that happens … Read more
My neighbor Tom grew garlic for three years before he figured out what he was doing wrong. His bulbs were always disappointing—small, with thin papery wrappers that fell apart. He’d plant beautiful cloves and harvest … Read more
My first attempt at growing garlic ended in disaster. I planted cloves from the grocery store in March, pointed end down (yes, upside down), and wondered why I got tiny, deformed bulbs four months later. … Read more
Every summer, my garden produces more vegetables than my family can eat fresh. Zucchini multiplies overnight. Peppers ripen faster than I can pick them. Bok choy bolts if I don’t harvest quickly enough. That’s when … Read more
My friend Karen was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last year. Her doctor handed her a meal plan and told her to “eat more vegetables.” Simple enough, right? Wrong. Karen called me two weeks later, … Read more
Last summer, my neighbor Maria had a bumper crop of green beans. More than her family could possibly eat. She blanched and froze about 30 pounds of them. “I feel bad feeding my kids frozen … Read more
Last summer, my neighbor Elena came over looking defeated. Her entire vegetable garden had been wiped out by an unexpected late frost. Months of work—gone overnight. Her tomatoes, peppers, and green beans were all destroyed. … Read more
Three years ago, I watched my neighbor Marcus stare at his garden bed in complete confusion. He’d planted broccoli, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts—all in the same raised bed. When I asked why he grouped … Read more