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Lunch from the backyard

Writer's picture: Dr BahrouDr Bahrou


Eight months ago, on a chilly December day, my family and I moved into a new home. One of the major draws of this home was the presence of an existing garden space with a large fence and rows of blueberry and black raspberry bushes. As a person who had previously tried and failed for a number of years to have a successful backyard garden, I was hopeful that a better set up would help me and my apparent 'black thumb' problem.

In the spring time, I was lucky enough to have my in laws travel from Germany to spend two weeks helping me get my garden cleaned up and set up for success. My father in law, a garden guru, removed the old plant material, turned the soil, started the seedlings, and pruned the berry bushes, among other things. My mother in law worked tirelessly; tending to flowers and playing with my boys. I feel so fortunate to have had their help this year.

This morning, while taking out the compost bucket (also a new adventure for me, but that's for another post), I noticed that our green beans were large enough to harvest. I had grabbed a few and realized I would need a bowl. I went skipping to our front door and my older son exclaimed "are those from our garden?!" He retrieved the bowl I had asked for and my younger son came out to harvest with me. The harvest above took maybe 20 minutes. We were munching blueberries off the bush and sharing our excitement. The first thing I did was send the above photo to my father in law.

I wanted to share this photo and I thought about writing about nutrition or healthy eating. However, as I sat eating a salad made of fresh and unwashed kale, chives and carrots from my own backyard, what I really wanted to share was the deep satisfaction I felt in being nourished by food that I had nourished from seeds.

Whether it's a few small herbs in the kitchen, a couple of pots on your deck, or any sized plot in your backyard, there is value in gardening to consume. Enjoy the journey! The dirt under your fingernails. The fascination of your children when the sprouts come up. The first time they realize something has grown and ripened enough to eat. My boys tried more new fruits and vegetables when it was something we had grown as opposed to something I had purchased and offered to them.


Among the benefits of eating from your backyard

- Capitalizing on maximal nutrients from fresh picked fruits and vegetables

- Reducing exposure to pesticides and herbicides

- A little (or a lot) extra exercise and time outside when tending to your plants

- If you're a parent, instilling in your children a love of nature, the joy of growing things, and the wonder of watching things grow and then eating them



Best to you! I would love to see photos of what you're growing!

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