Are you thinking of planting some veggies this spring? It seems like most folks I talk to have plans for pushing some seeds in the ground this year, and new gardeners are popping up like little orange Crocus’. Myself, I am beginning my second year of food growing in a tiny Ballard yard with limited southern exposure and equally limited expertise.

There are good reasons for this resurgence of gardening. Financial stresses and general economic nervousness put pressure on folks to reduce their food bills and assure access to good fresh food. Safety concerns in light of food contamination as well as sustainability issues encourage homegrown goodness. And what could be more local than salad greens from your backyard?

Resources for growing or finding local food are abundant. From pea patches to shared yards, community supported agriculture (CSA’s) to the Ballard Farmers Market, garden coaching to edibles planted and harvested for you, there is a seeming vast number of options for new gardeners, old gardeners and don’t-wanna-be-gardeners.

But here’s the thing. There are some very good reasons to have your own garden, and in my opinion, these are the best ones. You have to dig in the ground and get your hands dirty. You have to work fairly hard. You have to watch over your plants and see what they’re up to every day, and then, you have to eat them. Glorious!

I don’t know about you, but I’m planting my peas any day now.

Rhonda lives in Ballard and is the Urban Crop Circle Project Leader for Sustainable Ballard. Questions, Comments, Ideas? You can reach her at Rhonda@sustainableballard.org.