I have a dream. I think it’s a fairy simple one and hopefully one day obtainable too. I dream of having a four bedroom house in a quiet neighborhood and a big fenced in backyard. I dream of seeing my kids shooting hoops in the driveway or riding bikes on the side walk while I tend to our garden in the backyard. Someday I hope to make that dream a reality.
I grew up next door to my great-grandparents. My great-grandfather was gifted when it came to growing fruits and veggies. He could grow them all with ease. He must have had the biggest “green thumb” out of everyone I’ve ever met. I can still picture my great-grandfather tending to his garden while I indulge in a few of the strawberries that he grew near the house. Even back then I always dreamed of having a garden like my great-grandfather so I could grow pumpkins, watermelons, peppers, cucumbers and all my favorites.
The reality is that we live on a top floor condo and my “yard” is really a rickety old 6′ x 12′ wooden balcony.
I actually have tried to grow some veggies on our balcony. Oh did I try! I gave it my all. Things like string beans and peppers were not meant to be grown in itty bitty clay pots. I DID actually see veggies, too bad they were Barbie Doll sized. No kidding. They were the tiniest veggies I have ever seen. The string beans were as small as a paper clip!
I really want to have my own garden so I can grow fruits and veggies for my family. It would save money and I know my family would be enjoying fresh, home grown produce free from unknown pesticides and who-knows-what. As an added bonus I would know that I was doing something to help the environment. The less trucks, planes and boats hauling produce to the markets the less gas is being used and less pollutants sent out into our atmosphere.
Community and home based farms are becoming more and more popular these days. I’m assuming for the same exact reasons that I wants a garden for.
Have you noticed the specialty marked boxes of Triscuit crackers that help support the home farming movement? On each special box of Triscuits you’ll find actual plant seeds. I have some Dill seeds and some Basil seeds from boxes of Triscuits.
I ♥ Triscuits. I started eating them back when I was much younger. My Mom always set up Triscuit crackers with some NY Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese and slices of pepperoni to go on top. YUMM! Not too long ago I discovered the Laughing Cow cheese wedges. Its a low calorie spreadable cheese that goes GREAT on Triscuits too. They are even great right out of the box.
Shhh… I’ll let you in on a secret. They are good dipped in Nutella too. The combination of hazelnut spread and the crispy saltiness of the Triscuit go so good together.
Triscuit would like to enourage people to start their own backyard or community gardens so they are offering up seeds on 4 MILLION boxes of their crackers.
I have planted my Basil but not the Dill as of yet. I figured since I have no luck with growing plants I best wait to see how the Basil does before growing the Dill. If I happen to kill off my poor Basil plan (which is now a little nub of a plant – but growing!) I’ll give the Dill to a lady that I’m friendly with who has a garden in her yard. Plus I know what to use Basil with. I’m not 100% what to do with Dill.
Not only is Triscuits giving away free seeds but they also set up a special website and online community to help you learn more about gardening, ask questions of the experts and interact with other home and community gardens both online and in your own neighborhood.
Their website is http://www.kraftbrands.com/homefarming.
Everything you wanted to know about farming can be found on the site. I especially like the feature that lets you find home and community gardens near where you live. I found a farmer not too far from here. She has a 50 square foot garden and her goal is to produce 500 pounds of food in one year. Nice! That is a great goal to have.
The site also tells you all about growing different types of foods. I learned, for example, that my itty bitty Basil plant could grow to be 1-2 feet in height and it will take about 12 weeks before I can “harvest” the Basil to use for cooking. It’s already been a few weeks. I anticipate using my Basil by mid-September if all goes well.
You don’t need to have a yard to have a garden. I know people who CAN grow some veggies on their balconies. I’m limited to what I can do because of our cats and our dog. They seem to feel that anything green and leafy is fair game for them to nosh on. Not that I mind, per say, but I don’t want them eating something potentially poisonous to animals.
Whether you are curious to learn more about setting up a garden in your backyard, getting together to form a community garden, or simply grow a few herbs on your balcony, check out the Triscuit Home Farming website for more information. Don’t forget to pick up specialty marked boxes of Triscuits for your FREE seeds too.
Kimberly
*I received free products samples and a gift card in order to do this review. There was no other compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.
