a wonderful vegetable compost garden harvest

there is this deep peace in tending a garden, and great fulfillment in watching it bear fruit--well, vegetables in my case. i am not known to have a green thumb. i successfully grew a cactus plant and some chili in manila. but i'd like to think i am a staunch practitioner of composting food scraps--burying them back into the earth to enrich the soil, and to save much needed landfill space.

here in my spacious backyard, syrel and i have sprouted tomatoes, zucchini, squash, oregano, thyme, big, fat spinach leaves (as big as dinner plates!)--organic, i must proudly add as nothing came close to those plants except love and care and a lot of kitchen scraps; and delightful, as i must declare our blessings.

and not only has the earth sprouted these delights, but in abundance--it is so amazing! i have had to give away some giant spinach and some giant zucchini to friends who can't believe i used no fertilizer nor pesticides. well, the spinach did have some holes in them, thanks to the ever-tenacious slugs. we have learned a couple of tricks to detract them like putting coffee grinds or a bowl of beer around the plants.

and the taste and texture of this fruit of the land? sweet and tender, unlike anything i have bought from the hi-tech grocery stores here. when you eat your tomatoes as you pick them, i don't think you will ever buy them in a store again. my friend noel and i, have raved about growing his salad greens and some herbs in his city pocket garden. it's just great to eat the fruits of your labor!

mother earth gave me not only an extraordinary harvest but also led me into a circle of organic gardeners. i met julie haas-wajdowicz and marisa neelon who lead a monthly meeting for similar souls, looking to revere the soil by respecting it. marisa runs a community organic garden. she grows the sweetest red onions. julie does worm composting workshops that are gaining popularity. feed the worms food scraps and their poop makes for excellent organic fertilizer, free and non-chemical.

and then i came across terracycle--producers of liquid worm castings as organic fertilizer, bottled in recycled soda-pop plastic bottles, packed in discarded/misprinted boxes, founded by 23-year old princeton drop out and eco-capitalist tom szacky, based in new jersey, expecting $2.5 million in sales this year. inspired by a box of worms, these students had a dream: a company could be financially successful while being ecologically and socially responsible.

how wonderful that the consciousness towards the environment and economics is evolving. i join terracycle in their dream when renewable goals are shared by all enterprises, all working to "Grow a Better World."

check them out at terracycle