the morning harvest: old roots, new ways
This morning, my wife came in from the backyard, arms full of tomatoes, cucumbers, and a few stubborn carrots. The smell of earth clung to her, and for a moment, I was back in my grandmother’s garden—her hands always stained with soil, her apron heavy with beans.
But today’s gardens aren’t quite the same. My wife follows online trends—raised beds, drip irrigation, heirloom seeds ordered from across the country. She laughs at my stories of planting rows by the moon or using coffee grounds to keep slugs away. Sometimes I wonder if we’re losing something in this shift—those old tricks passed down over kitchen tables, the quiet pride in coaxing a tomato from stubborn clay.
Our neighbors debate: is it better to let the wildflowers grow for the bees, or keep everything neat for the HOA? Some say the new ways waste water, others argue they save it. The younger folks swap seeds on Facebook, while the old-timers grumble about lost flavors and too much plastic mulch.
Still, when I bite into a sun-warmed tomato, I remember why we do this. Maybe the methods change, but the joy of sharing a harvest—of bringing something real to the table—never does. I’d love to hear: do you stick to tradition, or embrace the new?
#gardeningmemories #generations #localgardening #Gardening
