Oh, gardening in my region is certainly an adventure! Let me paint you a picture with a dash of sarcasm and a sprinkle of humor.
Imagine a land where the weather can't make up its mind – one day it's basking in glorious sunshine, and the next, it's a freezing tundra. That's gardening in West Tennessee!! You never know when you'll have to perform an intricate dance, covering and uncovering your precious plants like they're the stars of a Broadway show.
But hey, at least you get a full-body workout, right? Who needs a gym when you can lift those frost blankets and sweat like a pig? It's the ultimate calorie-burner!
And let's not forget the delightful company we have while tending to our gardens. Sure, the mosquitoes might be the size of small birds, but they add a certain buzz to the experience (pun intended). Their incessant whining is like a motivational soundtrack, reminding you to work faster or become their next meal.
On the bright side, our region is home to the most delectable blueberries you'll ever taste. They're so plump and juicy, you'll be tempted to have a blueberry-eating contest with the birds (spoiler alert: the birds always win).
Our little garden goes out of its way to provide new toad abodes during Christmas time where my student elves crafted new little homes from up-cycled milk cartons using their creativity building such homes as the Zestful Zucchini Zenith, Toadshire Castle, Croakstone Citadel, Slimy Shack, to the Hoppy Hole Hipster, which will be added to our raised beds to entice our garden friends to come and munch on our slimy-slugs and insects that abound.
My gardening includes out Ritz Roost habitat for our chickens. From clucking new friends to trapping those feral cats and raccoons, it is never a dull moment around our little garden.
But despite all the challenges, there's something incredibly satisfying about plucking those fresh veggies from your own garden and sharing them with the community and students. It's like a reward for enduring the elements and battling the insect armies. Plus, you get a front-row seat to the most spectacular sunsets nature has to offer.
So, while gardening in West Tennessee might not be for the faint of heart, it's an adventure that will keep you on your toes (and probably covered in mosquito bites). But hey, at least you'll have the tastiest homegrown produce and a newfound appreciation for the great outdoors – or perhaps a newfound desire for a greenhouse!
------------------------------
donna burrus
Fayette Academy
Somerville TN
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-01-2024 12:00:57 PM
From: Amelia Dupuis (she/her)
Subject: Kids Garden Month Contest For Adults 2024!
Hi all! April is KidsGardening's annual Kids Garden Month celebration and contest! Just like the past couple of years, we're holding a contest for adults here in the Kids Garden Community.
For this year's contest, we want your sincere, sarcastic, funny, or inspirational answers to the question: "What do you love about gardening in your region?"
Can you garden outside all year long? Do you get hours of exercise covering and uncovering your plants to protect them from frost? Is your garden on the monarch migration route? Does your state grow the best blueberries? Are you just itching to pick veggies at dusk with all your mosquito friends?
For all of April, you can add your answer here as a text response, photos, video, song and dance, artwork, or however you want to convince us that your region is awesome (or not!) for gardening!
At the end of the month, FOUR respondents will be randomly selected to receive a goody bundle of 1 Back to the Roots mushroom grow kit, seed packets, and garden tools.
(P.S. Learn more about the kids contest hosted by KidsGardening here.)
------------------------------
Amelia Dupuis
Kids Garden Community Manager
KidsGardening
she/her
------------------------------