I’ve had people ask me this question before. Gardening has been such a part of my life that it’s hard to even imagine not gardening! Even as a kid I enjoyed playing in the dirt!
However I have to say that it was my mom that was the major influence in my life, not only with gardening but in many other areas as well.
For as long as I can remember my mother gardened. She always had a vegetable garden and numerous flower gardens. When our property became too shaded and she needed a larger garden she helped to create the Community Gardens in our hometown. During the summer months there was always fresh garden produce on the counter and the excess was being canned into tomato sauce or packed away into the freezer to enjoy during the cold winter months.
I thought it was normal to have your own frozen vegetables in the freezer, no Birds Eye or Green Giant vegetables in our freezer!
After I was married and my husband and I were living in an apartment I decided I needed to figure out a way to have a garden. There was no space for a garden next to the apartment but luckily the local Audubon Center offered a space in their community garden. The land had been a former farm so the soil was beautiful. We had a wonderful garden for the three years we lived in Maine.
Gardening continued to be a part of our lives no matter where we lived. We have now been in Vermont for almost twenty years and have been pulling rocks out of the soil every year! After all this time, the soil is finally just where I want it. And now it’s time for someone else to move in and take over!
Even with the house on the market my garden is planted and I will be harvesting my garlic any day! The Gete-okosomin squash plants are doing well and even if we had an offer on the house I should still have time to harvest the squash before having to leave!
I will miss my gardens that I have worked so hard to create but look forward to my next garden where ever that might be! I always think of my mom when I garden, even when she moved into a retirement community she had a little garden, she always wanted to grow her own tomatoes instead of relying on store bought. She was a true role model!
Nancy on the Home Front 
Gardening is such a wonderful thing to pass on from one generation to the next. I too am getting ready to sell. I thought leaving this place would be difficult due to all the effort we put forward. I’m excited actually energized because a new pallet of land awaits. Leaving a place behind that is already set up is such a positive thing – you’re setting a tone and the example for new beginnings.
LikeLike
Carole,
Good luck with your house sale! Love your comment, so true!
LikeLike
Best of luck with the house sale. It’s good to know that you will be able to take some of the fruits (and vegetables!) of your labour with you!
LikeLike
Pondside, Thanks for stopping by! We are hoping our house sells sooner than later! Things aren’t moving too fast in Vermont.
LikeLike
Wow ! It looks so beautiful ! : )
LikeLike
Ah thank you Daisy!
LikeLike
Great Article, thank you for sharing at The Homesteader Hop
LikeLike
Thank you floyd Family! Love your hop!
LikeLike
Loved the blog and stories of your lovely organic gardens and especially the photos of your beautiful raised beds! We’ve moved several times….but remained in Pennsylvania….rented a big old farm house for 10 years and had a small truck patch with the usual items that we love….lettuce, tomatoes, assorted beans, squash, peas….. Did mostly freezing but also enjoyed canning and making jellies and canning pickles. We didn’t farm the land, just enjoyed renting the farm house and watching the cows in the pastures surrounding the home. Wonderful in the spring to see the new-born calves. Two moves ago, out of necessity we had to leave the farm and it was a difficult departure; the access bridge was torn down…. but even now in our little row home in town, I enjoy my backyard garden although it is only a series of flower beds, bird baths, small trees, paths and a special vantage point in the back with ….. yes rocking chairs that I enjoy after an afternoon of weeding and pruning! I humorously call my little happy place…’The Garden of Weed’n’….and enjoy it just about year round. I keep a little photo journal and try new things every year. Keep up the wonderful blog! It’s a joy to read.
LikeLike
Char,
thank you smooch for stopping by, I love the name of your little happy place, just perfect! Keep enjoying it!
LikeLike
It is so sad that you have to leave all your hard work behind! But I am sure you will find that perfect place to call home and garden again! Your gardens are absolutely beautiful and your hard work shows in your pictures!
Good luck on your endeavor!
LikeLike
Thank you AnnMarie,
I will always miss what we left behind but look forward to creating new gardens!
LikeLike
I got the gardening bug from my Dad and my Grandmother 🙂 Love the photos of you and your Mom…she must have been a wonderful lady.
LikeLike
Lisa,
She was the best, miss her everyday!
LikeLike
You sure had a lovely garden there! Hope your new place is your dream place! My kids say I am an old hippie, but I credit gardening with my sanity. Plus health concerns made me take stock and want real food again. Thanks for your post!
LikeLike
Jennifer,
I feel the same way, I love relaxing in the garden! I also think it is so important to know where our food comes from!
LikeLike
My grandparents set the example for me. They always had a big garden and were so willing to share. I love my garden and I hope I am passing the love of gardening onto my grandkids. Great post!!
LikeLike
Brenda,
I am now tasing along what I’ve learned to my daughters and grandchildren! Such fun!
LikeLike
Such fond memories. I’m so glad that my mom as well as my grandmother too inspired me garden. I’ve never looked back.
Yours is gorgeous.
LikeLike
Loved reading your story! My Grandpa always had a garden and my mom always wanted one, so I guess it was in my genes too. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
LikeLike