Do you remember taking sprouting potatoes as a child and putting them in water, so you could see the shoots grow? Wasn't that fun? It was for me. I did it, on my 4th floor New York City apartment windowsills, with both white potatoes and sweet potatoes. Of course, then you need a place to plant them.
As a child, I also used to do things like sprouting apple and orange seeds from fruit I ate, but I never did get a tree out of it. But, now, in my senior years, I am talking to my cousin about growing carrots from carrot tops (yes, you can do that) and taking scallions (what we call green onions in New York City), saving the root and a couple of inches of the white part above the roots, putting them in a glass with a little water, and regrowing the green shoots.
Or, you can go even further. My spouse and I have been successful in sprouting ginger root and getting a harvest of roots.
We are not alone. It would seem that millions of people have decided to grow Victory Gardens this year. Maybe it's the spirit of World Wars I and II. Maybe it reflects fear of food shortages. Maybe it's the joy that comes from watching something grow.
Seeds are suddenly hard to get. Yesterday, spouse and I took a trip about 20 minutes from our house. It's the furthest we've been from home since around March 14. The highlight of our day? Going to a country store that recently reopened for the season and seeing a rack of seeds there. Victory. We had already mail ordered seeds before the pandemic started, but hadn't gotten everything we need for our community garden.
And then there are the people who are trying to raise chickens, because it's suddenly become hard (at least around here) to get chicken meat. As it happens, I've been there and done that in the country - about 30 some years ago. Am I thinking of doing it again, this time in my urban home? Not really but you never know where life will lead you. For one thing, years ago, we community gardened in what was once a Potter's Field.
Meanwhile, we count our Victories, small and large, not just the Vegetable type.
The hospital triage tents shown in my March post were taken down yesterday. My relative who was hospitalized with the Virus on April 7 has made large strides towards recovery in the past three days. I hate to celebrate his recovery because of the 51,000 plus people whose families have nothing to celebrate - and few ways to mourn.
But we celebrate what we can.
And eventually, we hope for Victory over coVid-19. It will be a beautiful thing.
"V" day on the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My topic: America the Beautiful.
I had lots of windowsill gardens when I was an elementary school teacher. We always did it just before open house for parent to take home. Not knowing when we will leaving our city condo has left me uninspired to grow something on our balcony. I'd hate to leave early sprouts to die if we get the green light to leave and go home to our float cabin in BC. - Margy
ReplyDeleteUnder your circumstances, I don't think I would start something now, either. We aren't sprouting onions and carrots ourselves, but I might have been tempted with the carrots if we could find carrots with the tops on.
DeleteWe are just planning on a garden for the first time ever!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! It isn't hard, but be prepared for both successes and failures. That's just the nature of gardening.
DeleteGlad to hear he’s on the road to recovery.
ReplyDeleteWindowsill gardens sound like fun.
Thank you, and that kind of gardening is fun, if allyou have is a windowsill.
DeleteA "Victory Garden," even on a windowsill, is such a positive response to the strictures imposed by the pandemic. It is heartening to see that they are becoming a thing once again.
ReplyDeleteLowes had seeds and we got a ton...anyways, about your cousin, did he get that Chloroquine (what-how to spell it?). Just wondering, I read that Cuomo wasn't allowing it. (if so, sad)
ReplyDeleteKeeping in prayer.
Yes, my relative was given Hydroxychloroquine starting as soon as his COVID-19 test came back positive (two days). He was given a five day course. The tricky part is that you can't prove that it helped or didn't help as we'll never know what would have happened if he didn't get it. Hydroxychloroquine is currently restricted in New York (my understanding) except in hospital settings, and there are other states that have put restrictions on it, too, because of risks of cardiac issues. I do appreciate your prayers.
DeleteYou can celebrate that your family recovered even when many did not. It's a rough time all around.
ReplyDeleteYes, truly a rough time. Your state took early action, for which it should be commended.
DeleteNot sure what sort of garden we will grow this year. But fresh veggies are always good
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finding seeds! Being a NYC apartment dweller, I actually looked at a hydroponic garden setup online that looked like it would fit in my space. But it seemed pricey, so continuing the search. Glad to hear about your relative. So true, we must celebrate where we can amid this pandemic.
ReplyDeleteOK, officially jealous :-) The Untermeyer has been on my to-do list for a while -- where it will, alas, have to stay until C19 quarantine is over. These photos are excellent!
ReplyDeleteSO happy to hear your family member is improving!
ReplyDeleteI have a number of friends here who are doing the windowsill gardening thing. I wish I could try starting some of last year's leftover seeds, but when they tore down the single family homes next door and put in five story apartment building they stole most of my afternoon sun. :(
I’ve always had something growing wherever I’ve lived, from Florida, to California, to Wisconsin. It’s different in every place but always fascinating to see a seed become something big enough to eat. Especially planting this year. Visiting from A to Z www.shirleyjdietz.com
ReplyDelete