epending on where you live, it’s time to play in the dirt. We Southerners tend to get out there around Easter time—taking that annual leap of faith by planting seeds of foods we love to eat! I cannot tell you the joy you feel when you pick that ripe tomato or cut into that sweet watermelon or pour a cup of peppermint tea. The sense of accomplishment that you actually grew something that you can actually eat is “UH-MAZING!”

When you look at the Gospels in the Bible and read the story of the Sower, you notice that when he sowed the seed it fell on a variety of ground—stony, by the wayside, among thorns, and the good. The success of the seed and harvest depended a lot upon the soil. Getting there, however, can take some work.

We have always planted food in our garden that we enjoy eating, and we always plant extra to share. Decide what foods you enjoy. Look them up to see the conditions they need to grow. Choose them for your garden. Be sure to consider herbs as well. Some of them—like rosemary and sage—actually grow year round. Shop online for seeds. Look for heirloom seeds, in varieties of vegetables, fruits or flowers, that were open-pollinated—or pollinated by insects, birds, wind, or other natural means—and “breed true,” or retain their original traits from one generation to the next (seedsavers.org). Shop your local nursery, home improvement store or superstores for best prices on plants and seeds. Always look for organic/non-GMO options if they’re your preference.

My late mother-in-law, Desiree Goodman, loved to garden. When she relocated to a more urban community, she planted her “garden” in pots on her balcony. She grew collards and peppers, as I remember, and they thrived. You can also grow things in a sunny window. If you don’t have land space, these are always options. Just make sure that the location gets plenty of sun.

For years my husband did the tilling and adding of nutrients to our soil to get a good outcome. Sometimes, if you’re not sure about your soil, you can contact your local County Extension Service to have a soil sample tested. Recently, we have used the Back to Eden Gardening Plan. It takes a little work to get started, but the principles that it uses are like that of how the forest continues to nurture itself through the cycle of life. We turned some red Alabama clay, black, and filled it with worms. Our soil grows some great peaches but the squirrels always get them before we do!

While there are lots of resources available and plenty of “gardening traditions,” the Farmer’s Almanac is like the Bible for farming/gardening. Also, check out the myriad resources for food preservation, so you can save some food for later.

Oh, and while you’re at it, here are some benefits you’ll receive from being outside:

• Studies have shown that when we’re exposed to nature, even for just a short time, our parasympathetic nervous system gradually takes control, lowering our blood pressure, pulse rate, inflammation, and cortisol levels while elevating our moods and activating cancer fighting natural killer (NK) cells.
• As a result, we can experience increased vigor and decreased depression, anxiety, fatigue, and mental fog. And those who are lucky enough to live near evergreen forests benefit from the high concentrations of phytoncides—or airborne essential oils—that they release. These “showers” are part of the tree’s own medicine and provide powerful stress relief and a natural immunity boost that can last for weeks. Simply put: forests help us to stay happy, relaxed, and well (https://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/forest-bathing).

Recipes this month feature these garden delights: Okra, corn, tomatoes, kale, watermelon; and the herbs dill, oregano, parsley, and cilantro.