What's in Our Gardens?

The Advocacy and Witness team has ten members in a total of three cities ranging from Boston, MA to Minneapolis, MN and Washington, DC. Over half of our team members have gardens that they lovingly tend.

Today, we are sharing our recommendations for things we love to plant in our gardens. We hope you will join us in growing beautiful flowers, lush grasses and bushes and delicious vegetables. What do you like to plant in your garden? Please give some recommendations in the comments below.

Adam: Plant a row of basil, there is nothing like frozen fresh pesto to get you through the winter.

Alex: I love Okra! I think it is probably due to some latent Southern gene left from my dustbowler ancestors. But finding good okra in the grocery store is an Arthurian quest. And getting it at the farmer's market requires deep pockets. Even then, it as a tendency to be a bit slimy. But I have discovered that growing okra is really easy. Our okra at home grows fast and tall. Last year's plants grew taller than our corn. It has beautiful flowers. And its production rate is outstanding! I felt like every time I cut off a fruit, a flower popped up the very next day. I also realized why farmer's don't like to grow it. It takes some space, it is covered with tiny needle like spines. And the ripening period is a little bit fickle. But with a little bit of vigilance, a pair of gloves, and a good pair of garden shears, you will be up to your nose in delicious, fresh, not-at-all slimy okra. I really prefer the Star of David okra from Seed Savers Exchange.

Audra: My favorite garden treat: cilantro! Chips and homemade salsa can’t be beat – especially when enjoyed with a spicy book! (My tried-and-true recipe: tomatoes, cilantro, white onion, jalapeño to taste, salt, pepper, lime juice. Yum!)

Eric:
Our vegetable garden doesn’t have anything very exotic, but a highlight of our summer will be the first chance to grill corn, zucchini, and yellow squash and serve it with a salad of mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. We’re going to try to prevent our spinach and cilantro from “bolting” early as they did last year. And, we’re hopeful that the long beans and peas get along well together in their raised bed this year. By early August the eggplants should be lovely to look at and make for a tasty baba ghanoush. The first crop of strawberries are probably only a week away from harvesting, various other berries a month or so later. And, if the garden gods are kind to us, the watermelons will get enough sunshine and rain to put big smiles on the faces of family and friends by the end of the summer.

Inch by inch, row by row…

Kat: My summer garden pick, arugula. And I feel compelled to state that I have drooled over arugula long before I ever heard of Barack Obama or the fact that it is his favorite leafy green. (Obama's left-handedness and love for arugula are two things that the president and I share in common.) While its pungent, peppery goodness kicks up the flavor of salads, it is equally good as a pizza topping.

Lisa: My favorite summer vegetable is rhubarb, which is very healthy, and which goes best with several cups of vegan butter and sugar.

Meg: New Zealand Spinach! That’s my favorite vegetable to plant! Unlike regular spinach, it will keep you in green, leafy, vitamin rich spinach for the entire summer! And it is a bit bulkier so it doesn’t cook down as dramatically as regular spinach either. It’s not as good to eat raw as regular spinach, but it is fantastic cooked!

Orelia: As far as vegetable plants go, there’s nothing I love more than a plate of freshly picked cucumbers and tomatoes covered in salt on a hot summer day. Datura (moonflowers) are my favorite summer scent, especially since they open and are most fragrant at dusk.