Every spring, as temperatures start to rise, we find it hard to control the urge to get dirty. Literally—we like to play in the dirt and grow some veggies! Seriously, though, nothing is better than starting your own garden. In fact, here are the top five reasons a garden should be in every vegetarian's arsenal:
1. You can't plant a cow, so gardening is inherently a vegetarian hobby.
2. Cruelty isn't involved in the gardening process (unless you are mean to your plants), so no worries about that.
3. A constant supply of herbs and veggies is a vegetarian's dream come true.
4. Nothing tastes better than food you grow yourself.
5. You get to play in the dirt!
Gardening is not just for old ladies in plastic clogs anymore; it's for every vegan punk with an empty orange juice carton to spare—just ask You Grow Girl creator and gardener extraordinaire Gayla Trail. We did, so check it out below …
How did You Grow Girl come about?
You Grow Girl started as an online magazine seven years ago. It was an opportunity for me to reach out and find people like me with whom I could share my experiences and my passion for gardening. My goal now is to continue to provide organic gardening information that is laid-back, accessible, and easy-to-follow but also intelligent, environmentally responsible, and affordable.
Do you think it's important to know where your food comes from?
It is very important, especially in this day and age when we are coming up against a myriad of environmental, energy, and health problems. Gardeners learn through personal and tactile experience what their food looks like, what it tastes like, and how much goes into growing it. This hands-on experience transforms gardeners into educated consumers.
Do you have any favorite vegetarian dishes that you make with the veggies and herbs you grow yourself?
I really started to get into dandelion greens last fall. They are surprisingly delicious boiled. The boiling removes a lot of the bitterness. I love this recipe for Dandelion Hortopia.*
So do you recommend high doses of fresh fruits and veggies in one's diet?
Absolutely. I'm not a nutritionist, but I know what works for my body. I try to follow a diet that is predominantly fresh vegetables with a smaller quantity of fruit when I am craving something sweet.
Can anyone start a garden, or do you have to live out in the country to get your green on?
I am proof positive that you can grow a garden, including food, just about anywhere. I live in an apartment in downtown Toronto, Canada, and do not have a traditional garden space. I grow food in containers on my rooftop and at a local community garden.
Do you think that everyone has a little bit of a green thumb?
Absolutely! I don't believe in black thumbs.
*Note: Leave out the feta to make it vegan!
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If you are not inspired to grab a shovel, plant some seeds, and anxiously await your vegetarian bounty to emerge, then you need to read Gayla's interview again. And if you are not inspired to get more veggies into your life, then you weren't reading closely enough. If you were inspired, all you have to do is click on the button below to take the Veg Pledge!
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