Tags
family, gluten-free, GMOs, healthy eating, spring, vegetable gardens, Visalia, Watson's Veggie Garden
Today felt like Spring. My daughter treated us to lunch in the back garden at Watson’s Veggie Garden and Health Food Store, a little oasis hidden in the middle of downtown Visalia. Our table sat in the middle of the lawn, although we could have chosen one under a great canopy or in the shade of a friendly tree. There were no traffic noises — even though we were just off Main Street — and the little one was free to wander around and visit the statuary until our meals came.
Even the menu was fanciful! Just imagine a tiny girl ordering a Nutter Butter sandwich, made from peanut butter and banana slices drizzled with local honey (I tried a bite — it was delicious!). After lunch we explored the store and marveled at the variety of gluten-free, vegan, organic, or local-grown foods they stock. And the chocolate truffles that sit next to the cash register. Oh, my!
Our surroundings sparked a conversation about how far we as humans have come from the way our bodies were designed to be fueled, our renewed awareness of GMOs in our food, and the many advantages of home vegetable gardens. I still maintain that we can turn things around with more careful food choices and many old-fashioned “victory gardens”. Although the war we are fighting is very different from the foreign enemies of WWII, the stakes are just as high. We cannot abdicate our responsibilities to provide “real” food, not additive-filled, chemical-infused concoctions, for our families.
I have been planning this spring’s garden in my head for a while, and now it is time to get to work. The weatherman is promising several days of rain this week to at least temporarily break our drought, so the back garden space should be ready to prepare after the rain stops. Last year I learned how far the shade reached into the garden spaces, and where the gopher holes snatched up all the water; that knowledge will guide my planting with (hopefully) better crop results this year.
I feel so sorry for those who are still having snow. Running around in a short-sleeved blouse today was marvelous, and I am grateful for it. Tomorrow’s forecast is for 79 degrees, followed by several days of more typical cool weather, and blessed rain. And I will be in the garden.
I am jealous! I live in one of the places that still has snow and temps in the teens!
LikeLike
I wish I could trade you some warmth and sun for a bit of rain…we are so parched here. – Fawn
LikeLike
Jim and I were talking about how some of the best advice for healthy eating can be found in ancient writings. Isn’t it something how the food with the least stuff done to it can be more expensive than food being sold with fancy boxes and lots of chemicals? It is snowing here and reading about your garden plans warmed me up some. I too am looking forward to spring and working in my garden. Ken is going to help me use chicken wire to cover the vegetables I plant this year. Last year the ground hog, deer and other animals ate just about everything. I don’t mind sharing but that was just rude! So happy you had such a lovely lunch and time with your girls. Special days for sure!
LikeLike
Maybe you could cover just parts of the veggies with chicken wire so there would still be some to share with the animals?? We get so excited when critters come into the yard — Olivia would be trying to tame them all down! I think one of the reasons the rawest food is more expensive is because it is more labor intensive, more humans handling it than machines. And it has to be kept fresher because of the lack of preservatives. As soon as I finish my breakfast I’m heading out to the backyard to clear out some weeds in the garden bed before tomorrow’s rain. Hugs to you today! – Fawn
LikeLike
The animals will still get plenty, no worry there! Hope you post pictures of your garden. Hopefully I’ll be getting mine ready in a couple of months. We are expecting a foot of snow tomorrow night, but it doesn’t hurt to start planning now!
LikeLike
I think the last time I ate at Watson’s was with you 🙂
LikeLike
I think that was my last time, too, Vickie! When you think about it, we have done a lot of cool things together over the years. I’m so glad you are my friend. – Fawn
LikeLike
“ditto”
LikeLike