Reaping the Harvest

    The first day I met the family I was going to nanny for in Chicago, I went to their house for dinner. Despite the fact that I was a ball of nerves because I wasn't actually sure if I had the job yet (though I found out later I did and it was just a come and meet us dinner), I managed to relax over a delicious meal of corn on the cob, chicken and a really good salad. I'm not entirely sure what all was in the salad anymore or what dressing it had, I just remember it was really good and it had fennel in it (which is something I had never had before, but quickly fell in love with). Needless to say fennel started appearing in my grocery shopping list.
    Anyway, while we were eating dinner she had mentioned something about being part of a program where you get fresh produce sent to your house in a box every week or couple weeks (I don't remember exactly how often). I remember thinking that was a really cool option for those living in the city. Not really having the funds to do something like that myself, I usually resorted to shopping at one of the various farmers markets hosted around the city, which was fun for me, but not always convenient.
    When I started nannying I noticed a cook book laying open on their counter top and became intrigued by the uniqueness of it. It was called Farmer John's Cookbook: The Real Dirt on Vegetables. It is a really cool cookbook organized by season. It has stories and information all about the different fruits and vegetables that come out in each season and then of course recipes. I was interested in the cookbook in the first place because I thought if whatever was in it was as good as what she served for dinner then I was going to be hooked! Sure enough, I was. I went home and bought the book for myself on my kindle and exhausted many the recipes in it.
    Though I enjoyed being able to cook with fruits and vegetables from the farmers market, I was always wishing I could grow my own plants and be a part of the entire process. There is something very satisfying about serving foods that you raised and cooked. Well God surely knows the desires of my heart because He brought us to a place in the country and gave us landlords who are very into growing things (they have an orchard, a corn field, a big garden, and all kinds of berry bushes). I asked if I could plant a garden and they loved the idea and even helped me till it! I think I wrote somewhere before that they probably thought I was a little silly planting a garden before my house was unpacked, but I was so excited to get a garden going!
    So now here I am a month and a half later reaping the harvest. I have been pulling tomatoes out for a couple weeks now, but today I harvested some zucchini, yellow squash, and radishes as well! I should also mention that I have been blessed with generous neighbors who have let me pick all I want from their cherry tree and raspberry bushes, so I have fruit in plenty as well. I am certainly a blessed little lady, and I am very thankful.

Reaping the harvest is a wonderful thing!