With Potted Plants, Know More about Foods You Put into Your Body

A Fresh Focus

I have killed many plants in my day.  Once, I even killed a bamboo plant, which is actually quite difficult. Bamboo is probably the only plant that would survive the apocalypse.  My inability to keep plants of any variety alive concerns me, partly because I love homegrown produce and partly because this can’t bode well for motherhood (but that’s neither here nor there).

Since I now have great access to plants at the market, I thought I’d give gardening another try.  I imagine there would be a strong sense of accomplishment in cooking something that I grew myself. So I decided to start small — I picked up an eggplant in its infancy one week, and last week when herbs were on sale, I got a rosemary plant and a mint plant.  

Upon purchase of my herbs, I asked many questions to the vendor. What size pot do I put it in? How often do I water it? What are the chances that I can do this successfully? He laughed at me, and shamed me for being a “farmer’s market person” and knowing this little about how to garden.

My first few weeks as a plant owner started out slow.  I forgot to water my eggplant. Which, I would imagine is probably what kills plants.  Fortunately, my roommate also has a plant on our porch that she legitimately takes care of, so she gave my eggplant some water until I finally decided to get my act together. 

Join us at the City of Manassas Farmers Market Thursdays at the Harris Pavilion and Saturdays in Parking Lot B (corner of West and Prince William Streets) from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. 

When I realized that my plants were starting to wilt, I felt motivated to succeed. I stopped by the garden center, bought some terra cotta pots, some potting soil, fertilizer, and asked a lot basic questions about taking care of plants.

A little overwhelming, yes, but I think I can make it work this time. Now that I’ve put some real effort into it, I get home with an excitement to check on my plants. While I am not sure that I’ll become one of those people that names or sings to her plants, I feel confident that I keep these  alive long enough to utilize their fruits in my recipes.

Gardening (and farming) is particularly valuable to me, as I find that we are living in world where there is consistently less trust between producer and consumer.  We don’t often get to meet the producer of the items that we put in our bodies.  Instead, we scan ingredient lists on the sides of boxes, looking for something recognizable (Xantham gum? Soy lecithin? Yellow #5?).  Do we know what we’re eating anymore? Do we understand the impact these things have on our health?

I am excited to use an ingredient that I produced.  There’s confidence in that.  It’s also the beauty of the Farmer’s Market. I challenge you to take the opportunity to get to know the vendors you buy from. Ask them about their farming practices. Ask them about their irrigation practices and their use of pesticides.  Ask our meat vendors about their feed and their treatment of animals.  You have an opportunity to be an informed consumer and take charge of your health.

If you’re interested in starting your own garden, too, and know as little as I did, our market has “Master Gardeners” available to answer your questions every other Saturday. They will be out this Saturday.  Come out and see us!