In the Beginning...

Okay, for anyone interested, I'm keeping a blog journal on this year's vegetable garden(s). I aptly named this blog Food Follies because the Miriam Webster definition of follies is, "A costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome". Though I have been a successful gardener in the past, I have not really been a very successful vegetable gardener, with the exception of an occasional tomato plant and a few peppers. Thus, the definition above. However, before we get too depressed, lets hope that I have begun to learn my lessons and have fewer of these "follies", but either way the journey this year is going to be fun. I'm always fascinated by growing my own food. To me every fruit, vegetable, or spud is its own little miracle.

Anyway, now that it's January I'm already itching to get out there and start growing things and, since I live in Florida, that's actually not as crazy as it sounds. So two days ago, after visiting Lowe's looking for after-Christmas 75% off sales, I arrived home very excited with a seed starting kit, a grow light, and some seeds of my favorite veggies (and no Christmas items).

I bought the Ferry-Morse kit that comes with the little discus-like pellets. Just add water and - poof! - instant miniature pot with soil to put your seeds in. It's like those little magic sponge capsules when I was a kid where you add water and they grow before your eyes into a colorful dinosaur or some other animal or object. I loved those! Maybe a subconscious reason I liked the pellets? Anyway, if the seeds grow, I'll like them even more. This kit also came with a heating pad to keep the seeds nice and warm, so they germinate faster. It's already 75 degrees in the house though, so I hope I'm not cooking them instead!

Check out my little garden thus far (It looks purple because my grow light puts out violet-colored light):

Not much to look at yet, but lots of potential - Chamomile, chives, dill, tomatos, lemon basil, banana peppers (red and yellow), and onions. I really wanted to grow some some garlic, but from what I read I just missed the Florida planting season for that.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

The history on this little diddy is actually rather serious - check it out if you wish. I prefer to continue thinking of it as a cute little nursery rhyme about gardening.

Lisa, Lisa, quite optimistic,

How does your garden grow?

With love and care and a little hope,

And plenty of seeds to sow.