Getting Fruity with the Landscape

I've just begun reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I seem to be drawn to tales such as this one. I love stories of people trying to live closer to the earth in a very deliberate way.

Knowing that, I guess it only makes sense that these days you're likely to find Jim and I outside clearing and prepping various parts of our yard for planting. Apples, mulberries, asparagus, potatoes as well as the usual vegetable garden suspects, are all waiting in the wings for their turn to be planted. We're even going to try to grow most of our own veggies this year. (Fingers and toes crossed and all good wishes welcomed. I'm a bit nervous about this!)

If tree fruits like apples and mulberries seem like a commitment that bears fruit off in a too distant future (3-5 years down the road), consider this. If we'd planted some apple trees when we first thought about doing it a few years back, we'd already have fruit bearing trees.

I'm pleased with our garden projects so far. Our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are made with homemade jelly, the product of our currant and gooseberry bushes. That was our most ambitious planting by far and it has really paid off.