Today, more than ever, stress is part of our daily life. Is there a miracle pill ? How does someone find time for tranquility ? We all know by now that there is no miracle tranquility pill. Yet, there is at least a partial way to achieve this inner peace, that some people seem to have found to be only a few steps away, in their own back yard. If you are fortunate enough to own your home and have even a few square feet, maybe an 8x10 plot you are able to set aside for your own enjoyment, i.e., to plant your own vegetables and flowers, or you may be renting a home and the owner may give you permission to setup something similar. You may even rent an apartment and the landlord might agree with letting you use a small area for this purpose. Whatever the case may be, it will be your own little world, where you can let lose and do your own thing, without someone peering over your back and maybe offering some unwarranted criticism. You will now be your own boss, without fear or worry.
A World Outside A World
Once an area has been set aside, you can then design your future little world on a sheet of paper and shape your little vegetable or flower garden( or both ) the way that it will satisfy you and maybe another person in your life. It will certainly not supply you and your family a yearly supply of vegetables, but it will give you a daily feeling of accomplishment...and maybe some tranquility. Many of the richest people in the world set aside an area around their property to do their own little thing, their get away which becomes their escape and sense of tranquility, sometimes for most of their lives. If you are fortunate enough to live in the tropics, you can start all of your planned little vegetable assortment in little 3 inch pots, placing 3 to 5 seed per pot, which have been filled about 3/4 filled with a balanced potting mix from a hardware store, or even your local food mart carries some in their flower section. The quick way is to first moisten the soil in each pot, placing a small catch plate or plastic retainer underneath each and press the seedling down with the back of a pencil. Place your pots on an unused table area and just wait. Remember, if you live in the tropics, or a very warm climate, where the night time temperature does't fall into the 40's, it would be o.k. to leave the starter pots on the patio, keeping in mind that seedlings need warmth to sprout properly.
See The Beginnings Of Your Creation
Just be patient. It should take a week to ten days for your seedlings to sprout and show their heads above the surface of the soil. Don't be mad if they take a little longer. Some seedlings do because of their nature. When they reach a couple of inches in height and display four leaves, they are almost ready to transplant into the garden plot you previously designed, keeping in mind that the night time temps cannot fall below the freezing point, otherwise can will kiss them all goodby. If you live in southern New Hampshire like we do, June 1st is a pretty comfortable date. There are charts in gardening shops that will guide you on this. In about 3 months, if you get the right amount of sun, water regularly, get the correct amount of rain in between, you should be harvesting your "big boy" tomatoes, or whatever you decided to grow. I almost forgot, don't forget to mulch each plant with grass clippings or well rotted leaves to keep the moisture and temperature fairly constant around your plant roots and hold down the weeds. Now enjoy your BLT without stress.
