Article 47

The Casual Gardener Visits The Gardening Community – Susan and Larry’s Vegetable Garden – A
Healthy Retreat!

Being healthy involves more than belonging to a health club. It involves participation in the community and the
greater world. Planting a fruit and vegetable garden is a healthy way to relieve stress and eat well. It is also
healthy for the environment – it’s much better to grow or buy “local”, rather than waste all the resources it takes
to ship our food from far away lands.

Here we are at the END of the vegetable season. It is definitely a bounteous time at your local grocer – with
fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, apples and, of course, pumpkins overflowing the bins. I felt it was a great
time to introduce a local couple who have built a solution to a difficult situation.

Susan and Larry live in an older home on Curtis Drive in Warrenville, Illinois. They have large Maple trees
which have totally covered their back yard with shade. Both Susan and Larry are avid vegetable gardeners
and were perplexed when the shade produced small and sometimes NO vegetables. Full sun was the answer,
so Susan and Larry relocated their large vegetable garden to the front yard.

I know the front yard is traditionally a place for more staid and sober gardening. Why? I don’t know – I think I
might have to say, “BORING!” Their garden is far from boring. It is beautiful, well organized and decorative. It’
s a fun and relaxing spot to experience a nice afternoon. The garden is not traditional. This begs me to ask
my readers to consider an important question - WHY MUST GARDENS BE TRADITIONAL? Susan and Larry ”
lived large”, took a risk and created an inspiring and beautiful space for all to share. They are quite generous
with the bounty from this garden as well! They grow Roma, Celebrity, Early Girl, Black Plum, Park’s Whopper,
Heirloom Polish and Heirloom Pineapple Tomatoes in their garden and, believe me; I have tried as many
varieties as I possibly can. Delicious! Incredible! Fantastic! I’m particularly fond of their Heirloom Polish
tomatoes. The tomato is firm with a red-pink hue and the flavor is an explosion of juicy almost sweetness which
I ate hungrily for lunch one day. Juice dripped down my chin! I am embarrassed to admit I hid the Polish variety
from the rest of my family so I could have them all to myself!

They also grow Jalapenos, Serrano Peppers, Cucumber, Rhubarb, Basil as well as a large variety of perennial
flowers including Datura “Moonflower”, Sedum, Echinacia, Hydrangea, Butterfly Bush, Hibiscus, Russian Sage,
Porcupine Grass and Buffalo Grass. They can, dry and utilize every inch of their garden for the off season.
For example, Susan prepares an incredible salsa concentrate made of Olive Oil, Peppers and Garlic which she
mixes in while cooking meals year ‘round.

There’s another reason they built this garden. Larry’s health is not what it used to be and he needs the
physical and emotional therapy of planting a garden. It keeps him active and busy while giving him the healthful
benefits of outdoor activity, which I speak about often in this column. I think planting a garden in your front yard
is a wonderful solution for many in our community – small children, retired elderly and people ill of health. Start
planning next year’s garden now. Be creative like Susan and Larry have been - build an incredible vegetable
garden in your front yard or on your easement property. If you don’t have the space, mix a tomato or two in
with your perennial beds or throw a vegetable out on that balcony. Build a garden in an interesting and
unusual space and brighten up your community. What’s important is that you get up, get off that couch and get
outside for better health. You can do it!!!

Please let me know your progress – I’ll be the first in line for some extra vegies!

A Healthy World and A Healthy YOU!

Please send your gardening questions for Shawna Coronado, The Casual Gardener to
dearshawna@thecasualgardener.com or The Casual Gardener, P.O. Box 358, Warrenville, IL 60555. www.
thecasualgardener.com

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