Veryfinecat speaks:
Its cold outside and little yard work is needed, but this is Florida and you know the time to crank up that smelly, noisy lawn mover is all too near.
Now is the time to change all that, shift your thoughts to a luscious array of veggies in that sunny spot of the yard, mixed in with an enchanted cottage garden of flowers. Yes, you can have your own tomatoes and eat them, too. Who says a yard has to be a boring lawn loaded with toxins to keep any other life form out? When was the last time you played croquet on that lawn? Why not do the ground work, get your hands dirty with the satisfying end result of having grown the lettuce for your salad or the greens for dinner? Depending on your yard, you might need raised beds or even just strategically place some planted containers to catch the sun. Plant marigolds with the tomatoes, it does not only look pretty, it also keeps pests away. The same is said for garlic around your roses. You can express yourself in the variety of plants you grow. The joy of tending to flowers and plants is great therapy for your self and the environment. Get your kids involved, get together with neighbors to share in the work as well as the harvest and create beautiful, nourishing spaces that feed you and the neighborhood. I envision bounties of squash and tomatoes on every doorstep this summer.
