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April 7, 2026

Someone Asked Me If It Was Worth It

Hi Reader!

The Answer is: YES! Totally worth it!

There are several reasons why I 'play in the dirt' ... a.k.a. garden.

I didn't grow up in a family of gardeners. No one even mentioned starting a garden. In my world, all food came from the grocery store, or a roadside stand.

I tried my hand at gardening during COVID lockdowns. A YouTube video caught my attention and that was enough to get me started.

I was outside a couple days ago dragging bags of soil and pots across the yard, watering, digging in my raised bed, pounding new trellises into place, etc. and my neighbor stopped me and asked, "Is it worth it doing all that work?" I paused.

That question always stops me. He wasn't the first to ask me that. After thinking for a bit, I responded.

"It's totally worth it to me." I get fresh veggies and fruit all summer long. After losing my job last year it's a good savings for me, and I get a ton of exercise." He replied, "I save tons of money with Kroger coupons."

I then said, "I'm trying to eliminate processed and lab made foods from my diet, so my garden helps me to do that."

Kroger has great coupons but it's mostly on ultra-processed "bagged and boxed" foods. He then said, "Well, mostly everything I eat is processed."🫨

That's a personal choice ... but for me, as I approach this senior citizen life, I want to eat as clean as possible. So, I grow what I can.

Friends, I was at the local grocery store the other day because I wanted a red bell pepper. They are so delicious! I figured that eating one would cure my craving until mine grew in the garden. Do you know how much it cost for one pepper?!? $2.50!!!! For ONE!!!

I'm much too cheap .... frugal, I mean frugal, for that. Needless to say, I have not had a pepper yet.

However, I bought ONE little pepper plant at a nursery the next day for .... $2.50, which will provide me with over a dozen peppers this summer. Plus, it will taste one thousand times better and will likely have more nutrition. Tell me, who is really saving money here?? I just have to wait for the pepper. 😎 Waiting is good for your personal character development. :)

This is only one of five pepper plants that I have. Some I started from seeds. I'll have plenty of bell peppers this summer.

I tried something new this year. Home Depot had Sweet 100 cherry tomato starts on sale for $1.50. I hadn't planned to grow this variety because I started a Golden Cherry tomato plant but because I am like I am, I bought it.

I decided to try growing it right into my clay soil. If it doesn't survive, i'm out of $1.50. It's worth the experimentation. Usually I grow in grow bags, containers, or my raised beds because the rabbits are demon-possessed and they eat up everything accessible to them.

I rigged a cage from three trellises around this little plant, added some rabbit and cat-proof plastic barbs, amended the clay and said a little prayer over her. "May the Lord be with you." We'll see how it goes!🙏🏽

Other parts of the garden are starting to wake up.

The garlic is looking beautiful! Just a few more weeks till harvest. It's a nine-month process from planting the cloves till the harvesting of garlic bulbs.

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I planted radishes just three (3) weeks ago and already have my first crop. On average, it only takes about 21 days from seed to harvest. If you like radishes give it a try before it gets too hot if you are in the South. Or, plant them in a shaded area.

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Last year I decided to add many more flowers to the garden because I am realizing more and more how important it is to attract the bees and other pollinators to my yard as they also help to pollinate the food! They do add so much 'pretty' to the garden though.

I didn't forget the little bumblebees and other thirsty insects who need a little drinky-drink in the heat of the day.

This little dish is for them. People give me a lot of garden things they no longer use and I try to find a place and use for each without looking like Joe-Joe the Junkyard Gardener. Adding marbles or pebbles in the bottom gives them somewhere to stand while drinking. Happy pollinators and bees makes a happy JanGardener on harvest day.

That's all I have for today. It's still early in the season so I'm sure there will be plenty more fun videos and photos to come!

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Gardening Thoughts

Seriously, try growing just one thing. Make it something you like to eat. Make sure it will do well in your grow zone. You don't have to grow a whole farm, and you don't need a ton of acreage. You just need a bit of desire and some elbow-grease.

I'm here if you have any questions. Just shoot me an email and I'll be sure to respond.

One day I'm going to figure out how to incorporate a way you can leave a msg right on the post so we can all communicate with each other.

If you need a personal Garden Consultant, let me know. If you are local we can meet up and I'll give you tips and tricks to get your garden going.

If you are not local we can do a phone/video call to discuss.

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Feel free to write me at jangardener@gardenease.org if you have any questions or comments.

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I'll see you in the next edition!

Peace and Love,

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If you have questions, comments, praises, complaints, or ideas about gardening or about the newsletter, you can reach me at: jangardener@gardenease.org