Getting Sidetracked

There is nothing wrong with that.

Anyone following along has already realized that this ‘blog’ has never really been defined. Much like myself I guess. Although there are many who think they can - I chuckle. I just can’t be one dimensional. When people would meet me I would tell them I am a photographer/I do photography. They would always ask what kind of photography? So I would ask what they meant. Are you a landscape photographer; portrait; sports; architectural (etc.)? My answer was always “yes”. But which one they would reply. I would simply reply with ‘whatever I can get my lens on’. I would explain to them how incredibly limiting to focus yourself on only one thing. I do agree there is something to be said for getting really good and specialize in one area - to master a craft. But I can’t live a one dimensional life. There is no rule that says you can’t be really good at many things. It is always fun to then tell folks that I shoot both digital and film. I have to admit I always appreciate the admiration from those who ‘once did’. For myself there are things worth preserving, no matter how our world keeps changing and advancing. There are skills, abilities, methods, etc. that we shouldn’t forget or lose. Hmm, let me segue here.

There is so much I could update folks with, but I decided to write up about one little thing that I have focused some time on. Trying to steer my attention and energies to something I really enjoy and hope to continue with on a larger scale. After reading this post you will agree, I need more space. It is something people really don’t do for themselves anymore. Another thing in our lives and societies that we are losing touch with. Instead we are being lured away by convenience. Life seems to be getting faster, so I am choosing more things toward the ‘slow life’. Admittedly I am decades behind where I want to me - talk about slow. My goodness it is painful. But I strive on. Atlas must be looking down on me and laughing, realizing his stone pushing was a cakewalk.

So what has taken up my time and energies lately? Some of you may be familiar with how much I love plants, growing gardens, and things revolving around that. I tend to go a little over-board with it at times. A few of you may remember when I moved to a place that didn’t really have much for me to do. So I took advantage of time and situation to focus on learning about growing plants. I simply went to places that were selling plants already started and . . . just kept buying more.

Don’t laugh, there was more to the left and behind me that I couldn’t get in the picture. You should have seen things when they actually grew closer to maturity. It was a true urban jungle.

It was great being able to go out and pick fresh ingredients to eat and cook with. The tastes, the aromas, the textures were simply amazing. Good for the mind, the body, and the soul.

I recently found myself in a place with a balcony, so I decided to try something like this again. This time starting from the actual seeds. I had been accumulating some items from my grocery shopping to help get me started.

There was actually one more packet of seeds here, but stuck behind another one. It didn’t take me long to buy more seeds. Some fruit, vegetable, and herb seeds.

I know there are certain ways to be properly growing seeds. I just decided to plough ahead and just get started. Challenge myself to be able to do things without specialty equipment. I knew I was too early, but I wanted to get some experimenting done. I would have time to start over if anything should go wrong.

Eventually I had some success.

One of the first seeds to break through the soil. Life begins.

And then things got going . . .

Less seeds or larger window?

Seeds are not the only thing that I have experimented with. I also decided to play around with a few other things. Such as these -

I know, I know - what are they? What is inside? It’s coming, be patient. You know the rules. Marko and his “rules”! I’ll do the reveal in a little bit. I am kind of putting the universe on notice now - get me some damn land and a place for all these plants. In the meantime there were little moments of joy. Watching my little babies (as I had affectionately referred to them) grow.

LIFE

What has been the inspiring part of this is witnessing the process of life evolving. Working with nature in a sense. Trying to create the environment for life to happen. Watching, waiting, learning, understanding. Mostly realizing that a lot of what is happening is just patience and trust. Yes, I agree with anyone who would say at this point wouldn’t it be easier and cheaper to just go out and buy it. That is not the point. It is about knowing where my food is coming from. Knowing what is in them, or on them for that matter. Remember this, for every convenience you have it comes at a cost. The more we lose touch with our food the more independence we hand over to someone else. I would kind of like to have more control over that aspect of my life. I see as our society embraces fast and convenient foods, the corresponding deterioration in our health and rise of diseases.

Another reason for this little garden I am growing is the medicinal aspect to it. Yes, many of these herb plants I am growing not only taste and smell amazing, but have a myriad of health benefits. One day I want to create my own home apothecary. As you can see, all you need is a little container and a window and you can do something like this. Just start with one plant. They can be kept going on and on. I am sure you will agree, the prices of herbs, fruits, vegetables can be quite expensive. You can change that for yourself, it may just take a little time and attention. If you have a home with any yard space (front and/or back) why are you growing a lawn, and not your own food?

For me this process is worth it. And I will make the time for it. Busy is an excuse, and often something that is chosen. I just choose to keep myself busy with these kind of things. I probably won’t have time for much else if this little experiment keeps getting out of hand. Now is a good time to share with you some of the initial results.

And part two, with the reveals.

I also tried to get a blueberry plant, but the delivery of that just didn’t happen. I am still on the hunt for one. I see so many trees that I want to buy, but I just can’t do them now. If you think I am done with seeds, here are the ones not yet started.

Yes, I agree, I am a little crazy when it comes to this kind of thing. And if you are asking yourself where the heck is he going to put all these plants (now that you have seen the modest balcony I have to work with), I am asking myself the same question. As with most things, I’ll just figure it out later. For now I will just keep getting more containers. You don’t always need to have a backyard to do this. I decided not to wait to get land, I’ll just start some plants and trees in containers and just move them someday when I get a more stable place to grow. In the meantime I hope I actually get some berries to eat.

Another thing I am trying to learn is to save my own seeds. Decided to take advantage of some of the food I was buying and see if that is another skill I can develop.

What they consider here a hot pepper. I also tried to save some seeds from a red bell pepper. Will try and grow some food from them next year to see how well I did.

Hope to provide an update in a few months when I can get some of these plants outside and in containers. Stay tuned.