Day #1 of the Personal Vegetable Garden Project: Planting bags delivered by Michael Mafdis and Randy of Flagler Village Farm Homegrown bamboo installed by me with friend’s help to stake tomatoes, etc. Can’t wait! How exciting to have fresh lettuce and arugula, tomatoes, scallions, carrots, sweet potatoes and more! Lucky we have cat guards to hold the iguanas at bay!

Day 2: Irrigation added to bags so automatic watering can nourish the plants, in a twice-daily, not-dependent-on-my-remembering-or-having-to-be-there solution.

Day 2: Hose bib installed

Day 3: Seedlings installed! I have to say, I felt maternal stirrings as I gazed at my new baby seedlings: tomatoes, eggplant, scallions, nasturtium, carrots.. Arugula and more to come! I tenderly sprinkled cayenne pepper around the edges to prevent the guard cats from jumping in the bags. (Cat paw prints observed earlier in day.)

Day 4: Dirt kicked out of bags by reckless, disrespectful marauders who could have been: cats, iguanas, raccoons, snakes, frogs – or a chase between any of them. Life is great in the “settled” Everglades.

Day 5: Well, it’s a little early to get excited, but it appears the nasturtiums are the stars! With their round, flat leaves, they are nature’s perfect design to capture as much sunlight and moisture as possible, resulting in rapid growth. Leaves and flowers are edible and can be used in salads and stir frys; taste is reminiscent of a slightly peppery watercress. Nasturtium is high in Vitamin C and lutein(supports the eyes).

Day 8:
“Here I am,” says the sassy Eggplant, flaunting her raspberry-mousse-colored self to the lofty Nasturtium clan..

Day 18: The Chinese Cabbage are the stars of the garden now. They love growing up in our South Florida terrarium-style weather.

The Lofty Nasturtiums are not, I repeat, are not on growth hormones! They are nature’s elegant design to maximize photosynthesis! Here they surround and protect Sassy Eggplant from a frigid-for-SoFL morning.

Day 26: The temperature plummeted to 44 degrees last night! We turned on the heat which is a big deal here. Farm Expert advised me to lightly mist plants with water to protect them and it worked!

Day 31: The lacy Dill, which I thought would perish during our brief winter moment is flourishing! That water mist “blanket” is the ticket!

Day 39: If this is exciting, then how does a farmer feel about watching his crops flourish? From seedlings to this in a little over a month..very satisfying and healthier than a lot of other stuff I could be doing..

The Garden explodes..! heart emoticon
Tomatoes climb colorful party towers; Orange nasturtium flowers; Chinese cabbagge & carrots..

So, this amazing cabbage will eventually grow a big Chinese cabbage in the middle which I can’t imagine although I did see photos online so it must be true! In the meantime, the outer leaves are awesome stir fried in a little olive oil. Even better with fresh grated ginger and/or fresh pressed garlic. Delicious with just about everything and definitely a Food with Benefits!

Everyone of these beautiful yellow flowers will turn into an eggplant! Oh joy

Columbine-like tomato blossoms bring more color and anticipation!
Also, according to Michael Madfis, tomato plants deter aphids.

How beautiful are these locally-grown radishes from Marando Farms? Red on the inside, white on the outside! And they’re they’re a love letter to your liver, as well.

Ce Ce told me I could start new celery and bok choy plants by putting the plant bottoms in water. Only a few weeks later..Cheers! Sustainable food! Ready to plant to finish growing..