Summer is often referred to as a time to kick up your feet and relax in the sun, away from all the demands of school. But for my family, it was the time to start preparing for our yearly and prosperous garden.

This is the third year that we have planted our own garden and we have become more and more successful with what is produced. Our garden has increased in size and now holds a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs.

My family first started gardening during the summer of 2010. We wanted to try it out and see if it was really worth it. The outcome was more than what we had expected; we received an overwhelming amount of food.

Before the seeds are placed in the ground, they are inserted into tiny peat pots which will help them germinate and sprout, lasting up to six or seven weeks. When the temperature gets to around 50 degrees at night, the plants are placed in the ground, usually taking place in the middle of April.

Depending on what vegetables, fruits, or herbs you want to plant, gardens can range in size. All you need to have is good soil, a consistant watering irrigation system and a hard working spirit.

If you do not keep up and manage your garden, some of the downsides can be, weeds growing and taking over the plant, caterpillars and grasshoppers eating the leaves, or if there are days when it is really hot, the plants can dry up and die. You have to be responsible enough to care for your garden.

Our garden has expanded from not only being tomatoes, squash, zucchini and watermelon but we have now added green beans, basil, peppers and eggplant. My family uses the harvest we receive to make jars of tomato sauce, salsas and many more appetizing dishes.

With all the hard work that goes into preparing these plants, my family gets to taste and experiment with the new homemade dishes we make. For example, we eat spaghetti with our tomatoe sauce, tacos with the salsa and a variety of casseroles with our zucchini and squash.

We have all contributed to some part into the preparation and treatment of our garden. It has built a community in our family where we are able to enjoy the produce in our meals. It’s exciting for us to go out and see what has grown and be able to pick it off the vine or stem.

Being able to generate your own garden helps keep away any harmful toxins that are placed on plants to kill bugs and decrease the chance of getting pesticides. You are guaranteed to grow wholesome and substantial crops.

Having a garden is very handy and proficient to have around. It is a way to manage what is produced and it gives you the variety of seeds so that you can maintain your own diet. Making your own dishes helps in saving you money on foods you would normally buy at any grocery store.

After making a meal that you personally helped spend hours working on, it creates a feeling of success and accomplishment. I encourage people to try it out; it’s beneficial to have around and you have a sense of pride when you can look at the work that you personally succeeded in.

If you have any questions, please contact Kaitlyn King.

For more opinions, read the Sept. 5 article, College Corner: Staying one step ahead of the game.