I come from a long line of creative individuals having a great deal of respect for the ability of the human mind to think up remarkable things. My grandma used to always ask me with excitement, “Isn’t the mind fascinating?!?” Personally, I believe that creative, out-of-the-box thinking was a requirement in our family – one common answer to many questions I had growing up was, “What do you think?”

But deep down, there will always be this yearning to dig the dirt, grow something nummy and eat it. And… if you happen to come across something you know is edible, pick it and eat it… then keep on walking. Grandma frequently made me eat things she’d pick off some random plant and then ask me to tell her how it tasted. After I did, I’d get a short history lesson on the plant, what it used to be used for and how horrid it was that the flavor was now synthetically made – but, that it was also fascinating that the flavor COULD be made in that fashion. (Remember, the mind is fascinating!)

I believe it was with great fortune that my mother moved me out of the border town of El Centro, Calfornia and planted us in southern Kansas in the mid-70’s. Although, as a teenager, I really hated the work involved, I’m sure it was the farming and growing food that brought this yearning I have now to the surface much later in my life.

So, when I moved to Round Rock, Texas in 2007 for a job as a systems engineer, I had to have a garden. What started out as a few tomato plants in big pots back then resulted in me ripping up 1/3 of my back yard and creating a 21’x56′ raised-bed garden to satisfy this desire that is embedded in my genes. One of my aunts frequently states that she “loves how our family members are basically farmers at heart.” It’s true!

With that background, the purpose of this blog is to get down my thoughts on gardening down here in Texas, where I have the fortune of a very long growing season. (In the case of some plants, it’s all year!) Every tidbit of information I can find will go down on these pages.

I’m a stickler for organic gardening so if you want tips on what chemicals to use to get rid of this bug or that fungus, don’t come here. However, if you’d like to hear how neato red wrigglers make the best compost around AND help get rid of your garbage, this is the place for you. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not perfect. My stuff gets infested and dies also…. I’ll document it (with pictures), post what I’m trying to do, and if any of you have suggestions, by all means comment!

Anyhow… I hope you enjoy what I do and come back frequently. Say howdy every so often!