City Girl Becomes Country Gal

by SuzyQ
(Henrico County, Virginia)

I grew up in New York City, which is about as far as you can get from the country or farmland. Instead of walking around green fields, I had gray cement. Although I spent summers with my grandfather on his farm in Pennsylvania, it wasn't until I was well into adulthood that I had the opportunity to flee the concrete jungle and put down roots in a small town with a population of less than 500.

I had to learn a whole new set of rules. I had to learn that my neighbors were more than the people who lived up the road. They were also my friends. I had to learn to rely on the land, because the nearest mall was 35 miles away. I had to learn to slow down, because not everyone was in a hurry in my new town. I also had to learn to trust people, something that is very hard when you come from a city where you think everyone is out to stab you in the back.

One of the things I also had to learn to do is grow a garden. I had never grown anything except mold (in my refrigerator) and now I was going to be responsible for herbs and vegetables.

The first year I had a miserable crop. Although I got some tomatoes, they were small and not very flavorful. I only got one zucchini from each plant, when I should have been loaded. The spinach didn't grow at all, even though I planted it twice. But the second year, things turned around and I became more successful, thanks to the generosity of friends down the road and the owner of the feed and seed company.

I no longer live in that small country town, but the lessons I learned there will stay with me forever. Including my gardening expertise!