Appreciation of Organic Vegetables and Soil
A few weeks ago, I spent a few days in a quaint little villa in Italy. It was Italy as I pictured it, with tiny stores selling bread, or fresh produce, little pizzerias on every corner, and small cobble- stone streets where ever we happened to walk.
Of course, very few of the people in this tiny town spoke English, which made the adventure all the more exciting for us, as we immersed ourselves in their rich culture, and attempted to adapt, as best we could to their land and people.
As I walked down our cobble stone road to buy fresh bread each morning along with a friend of mine, we passed many small gardens, each growing an array of vegetables.
Vegetables were an important part of the lives of these Italian people, it was apparent. What was also evident was that the Italians were generally healthier looking people than myself, as I seldom saw an overweight person.
Looking at the many veggie beds throughout the Italian countryside, I remembered an experience that my friend and I both shared some 20 years prior. The two of us had traveled alongside some people from the then Soviet Union, the dreaded U.S.S.R., at the tail end of the Cold War.
Upon their arrival into the U.S.A. for the first time, the Soviets, all 30 of them, appeared shocked by the large amounts of fresh veggies and fruits in our grocery stores. At that time, in my young college years, I did not fully appreciate this incident, and just chalked it up to the poverty, in general, of a communist country.
Fresh vegetables, and fruits, are indeed a vital part of a healthy diet, and a healthy lifestyle. It has taken my wife many years to teach me that. Seeing the healthy people in Europe this summer only reinforced this.
In order to have the best veggies and fruit growing in your own backyard, you need to make sure you have the best soil possible for them. Sadly, we here in Georgia don’t have the type of soil that Italy or Switzerland has, as our grounds are full of red clay. Amending the soil is a must here in middle Georgia, and though it may take a little effort, the rewards are well worth it.
Whether you garden in small raised beds, or in large fields, the addition of nutrients is essential. Not only will they help to feed your plants, nutrients will also help to retain water in our hot and dry climate.
The addition of nutrients, such as compost, leaves, and other materials will also help to loosen your soil, allowing plant roots to grow deep, a must for healthy plants.
Hopefully, it won’t take you nearly as long as it did for me to appreciate the power of a fresh and organic vegetable.
So, when you are planting your second edition of corn or squash, or planning for your fall crop, make sure you amend your soil with organic matter and nutrients, as well. Enjoy!