How Does Your Garden Grow

flyhcoaches
Apr 21, 2023
4 min read

By Denna

April showers bring May flowers…

Quite literally actually, the rain that arrives in April helps nourish the soil, which in turn brings May flowers into bloom.

It doesn’t just pertain to flowers though. April showers can also give us an excellent variety of fruits and veggies.

From strawberries to radishes. From peas to peppers. From tomatoes to spinach.

One fond memory of mine as a child was when my mom started a small garden in our backyard. My sister and I had a great experience planting an assortment of veggies in this little garden.

The veggie that stands out the most in our memories was the carrots. When we went to harvest them, they turned out to be WAYYY smaller than what we expected. But hey… they were our carrots. We grew them from seeds, and we were proud of the tiny things.

How good it felt to watch the baby seeds burst forth from the dirt with their tiny sprouts. And each day we watched them grow bigger and bigger. I remember feeling awe at what we had started. Knowing we took part in their creation.

Well... that is until the bunnies started showing up.

I suppose, if our stomachs weren’t filled, at least the bunnies’ bellies would be full!

Starting and maintaining a garden can be a lot of work. But the benefits are well worth it:

🥕 You’ll have fresh, healthy produce at your finger tips.

🍓 It is cost saving. How many times have you purchased veggies only to have them go bad sooner than expected? Or perhaps you enjoy veggies that are not readily available at your local store.

🥕 Sneak in a bit of exercise. Yes, gardening is exercise. It is a form of movement after all. Gardening can help with building strength, flexibility, and simply burning a few calories.

🍓 Boost your mood. Building and nurturing a garden can raise your confidence and give an overall sense of accomplishment. It’s also a great stress reducer as it can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

🥕 Gain all the benefits of being outdoors and connecting with nature. Being outdoors will help you soak up that important Vitamin D. Connecting with nature and breathing in that fresh air can help improve and regulate your sleep.

🍓 Get the kids involved! This can be a great experience for them, as my little story alluded to. When children are involved in the creation of food and then the experience of cooking with that creation, you’re helping lay the foundation for their new healthy habits.

Can’t do an outdoor garden? No problem!

Indoor gardens can be fun and easy. All you need are a couple of proper containers, adequate lighting, and indoor friendly plants.

🥬 Containers – Make sure your pots have drainage holes. After that, you can choose from so many decorative options. Turn your veggies into a piece of art!

🧄 Soil – Not just any soil will do. Choose a high-quality potting mix, one specifically designed for indoor plants.

🥬 Lighting – If you’re not able to keep your plants near natural light (my house is definitely not designed for that), then there are plenty of artificial lighting options. They even come with timers to make it convenient. Artificial light works just as well… trust me, we had an herb garden that quickly turned into a jungle. Turns out they were simply happy little guys that were well-fed and well-lit. 😊

🧄 Humidity and watering are important – Water your plants only when the soil starts to feel dry to the touch. If you live in a dry climate, consider getting a humidifier. Indoor plants and their soil can dry out faster than outdoor plants. Keeping them appropriately hydrated is key… just like us humans!

🥬 Not sure what plants to choose? The best options for indoor veggies are sprouts and microgreens, leafy greens (like spinach and kale), and root vegetables (like radishes, beets, and carrots) to name a few. Micro tomatoes are a fun one as the plants won’t get as big as a regular tomato vine, but still pack a punch in the flavor arena. And of course, your variety of herbs – basil, thyme, cilantro, and mint are all great options.

Now that you have your garden, let’s get cooking!

Here’s an adventurous recipe using the spring vegetables of cabbage and kale.

Indian Sautéed Cabbage with Shallots and Greens

YIELDS 4 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbsp. coconut oil

1 tsp. mustard seeds

2 golf ball-sized shallots, thinly sliced

5 cups green cabbage, very thinly sliced

3 cups green kale, thick center vein removed, thinly sliced

¾ tsp. turmeric

½ tsp. sea salt

Pinch cayenne pepper

METHOD

Heat coconut oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add mustard seeds and cover pan with a lid. Seeds will begin to sputter. After the sputter slows, remove lid, add shallots and sauté until soft. Add cabbage, kale, turmeric, salt, and cayenne, and continue to sauté until greens are cooked through.

Source: Andrea Nakayama, Functional Nutrition Alliance

Photo: by Denna

Happy Gardening and Happy Eating!