By Bea Kunz
August 23 is Kitchen Garden Day!

Never ,  since the years surrounding the war efforts during the 1940’s have we seen such interest and participation in gardening…and for the most part, Kitchen Gardening.

A kitchen garden means something different to most everyone.

To me…it’s a plot just outside my kitchen door where I have one of most every kind of herb used in my cooking and tea habits.

Another plot out behind the potting shed where I grow heirloom tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, cucumber, eggplant, okra, corn, beets, melons, and many kinds of salad greens.

A kitchen garden can be whatever you need it to be.

It’s the idea followed by some action of doing.

It can be grown in many different kinds of mediums, from a tilled bed, to raised beds, to a plastic tub.

One of my favorite hang-outs is :  “Kitchen Gardeners International.”  This organization can be credited with bringing the kitchen garden back into the spotlight. Below is a bit of information from the website for the promotion of Kitchen Garden Day International.

Each year we celebrate this day by some or all of the events shared below. I hope you find one and run with it.

Kitchen Gardeners International is a nonprofit network of organic kitchen gardeners and home cooks ( of which I am a member and supporter ) from over 100 countries.

The Goals are:
 –To celebrate the positive role of organic kitchen gardening in society, health, and gastronomy.
-To raise awareness about the benefits of eating local and to encourage people to explore local food options in their areas.
-To build a community spirit, at local and international levels around the universal experiences of gardening, cooking, and eating.

 Some Ideas of Events to Plan and Promote;

A walking tour of gardens in your area
-a kitchen garden or local agriculture potluck
-a kitchen garden taste-test
-a harvest or planting party
-a benefit for a local food/gardening charity
-a kitchen garden “teach in”
-a single food theme party
-an activity at a local farm
-etc

This is a wonderful time to approach your city or county leaders about a community garden project.

This can be a school project, church project, or ang group that has access to enough space to make it a reality.

Gardens are even being grown on rooftops all across the country…..now that’s  an  idea whose time has come.

 Whatever you do, make it fun, educational, and inclusive to others. Only by doing and sharing will we learn to do and share.

Happy Gardening Day !

 

Bea Kunz

Sage Hill Farms

EatWell-BeWell~

931-438-8328

http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com

http://www.beasbeatitudes.blogspot.com