Farming for Dummies

It seems that two suburban women without any knowledge of farming  are doing it; albeit in a small proportion.

That's right! My beautiful neighbor, Tigi, and I are farming three plots of land at the Mar-Duke Farm in Downers Grove.

About six weeks ago, our family grew the seedlings of about 900 different vegetables. When Tigi found out, she was instantly amazed. She joined in. Neither Tigi nor I have ever been able to grow any plant — EVER.  I must admit that it's amazing that we can keep our families healthy and strong, but that we have been doomed in the genre of a green thumbing it. But, alas, we threw caution to the wind.

My husband decided to take a seed from Front Street Cantina's salsa. He planted it and I'll be darned, it is growing. We have no idea what it is, nor do we care.  We call it "The Cantina Plant." When we told  her this, she was amazed that the seeds of plants can grow things. We all laughed in delight.

Between planting asparagus upside down, finding out the beans can be bushes, planting our broccoli too close together, learning how to stake our tomato plants in an economical manner — I think we may become good at this. Thus far, we are calculating the cost of organic farming. We are forecasting how much we will produce. So far, I know that I personally will have 700 tomatoes, and I haven't finished planting all the plants (which will probably result in double the quantity. Pictures will follow. We'll keep you apprised.

If you are in need of tomatoes, I may sell them and donate them to charity at the farmers market this summer. I know, I am thinking big. We'll probably get bug rot and everything will die. But I'll keep you posted.