Growing Appetite

by Author

Boe

Brenda

Les

Valria

I have so many things to write about, and yet suddenly nothing comes to mind. I’ve sat and stared at the blinking cursor on my Word Processor for more than an hour wondering how I’m going to make my debut on GrowingAppetite.com. Then, it dawned on me — how about a trip down memory lane? I started digging through my iPhoto library, and discovered photos from 2005, 2006 and 2007. I thought it would be interesting to show everyone where I started, and where I hope to end up.

Growing is a passion of mine. Whether it be personal growth, growing plants, or watching moss grow, I’ve always enjoyed everything about growing. I grew up amongst a farming community bordering the suburbs in Kansas. My mother had a passion for plants, which might explain why I had my first greenhouse by the time I was just 9 or 10. In fact, my very first job was at Joe’s Market, a plant farm in Olathe, Kansas. When a customer would ask about a plant, Joe would call out, “that plant will a-bloom-a-bloom-a-bloom-a.” That was his answer for everything — his English wasn’t all to good.

Soon after, I entered the era of moody teenager, where my only interests were sex, drugs and hard core electronica. I guess everyone has to go through that phase. For years, I had absolutely nothing to do with rural America or anything “living” for that matter. Certainly an interesting time in my life, but I’m happy to be back to my ten year old self. In 2004 I moved to Seattle Washington with one motive: GREEN! I missed it, I craved it, and I was willing to do just about anything to get it. (Including live in a dark basement for 8 months to save the money for the move.)

My partner and I moved into a house in the Central District area of Seattle, and I set out to re-create the backyard into a garden paradise. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures from 2004 when we moved in. My backyard consisted of a pile of dirt in the back, and *massive* quantities of blackberry bushes. Everything looked half dead, because someone had taken RoundUp and sprayed it on everything. It didn’t actually kill anything dead, especially the blackberries, it just made everything look sick and yellow. What a beautiful sight it was.

2005 is the earliest picture I have on file. I had done a lot of work at this point, but little did I know — the transformation had just began.

Boe’s 2005 Garden Photo

In 2006, I purchased the greenhouse I had always dreamt of. 2006 was a spectacular year of transformation. I think the pictures speak louder than words.

Boe’s 2006 Garden Photos

2007 is just beginning, but it is already turning out to be a year of spectacular transformation. I look forward to all the wonderful green and growing ahead.

Boe’s 2007 Garden Photos

This year, I am focusing on the French potager, and all the plants one would find in such a garden. I’ve been reading books about French gardening techniques all winter, and I am excited to execute some of these techniques. I have including the pictures which I have pulled to be my guiding inspiration for 2007.