IN MY OPINION How I Grew My Vegetable Garden by Kiki Cicak Caines F ood has been a hot topic on social media for the past few years. From rising costs, questionable nutritional value, availability, food additives, preservatives, and harsh comparisons to what other countries eat versus here in the U.S., I’m reading about another issue every day. One thing is certain, our country’s way of eating is being scrutinized more than ever. Are the criticisms valid? Yes and no. The first time I started to question what I was eating was when I had children of my own. New moms are bombarded with information and opinions early on starting with the breast milk versus formula debate. It’s part of a larger discussion that often overwhelms parents and doesn’t go away. My boys are teenagers and the struggle to feed them a healthy variety of food is a constant battle. The fact is that the fast food we often resort to eating in a rush is not healthy and lacks nutritional value. The fact is that a lot of the 34 snacks and drinks we consume have unhealthy and even poisonous ingredients added to extend their shelf life. The fact is, and we all have experienced this firsthand, the cost of food is rising astronomically. If these trends continue, we should all be looking at ways to help combat these issues, big or small. This year, I grew a vegetable garden. It’s not huge nor will it generate enough food to feed my teenage boys, but it was a small step I took to begin a lifestyle that gives me healthier and affordable options. As I’m writing this article in August, I have more cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers than I’d normally buy at the grocery store over the course of a year. I have a wide range of fresh herbs to add to dishes, and I’m even getting ready to cook some butternut squash for the first time in my life! So now, I’m starting to think bigger. What if I grow more with the aim of utilizing fresh-from-thewww.reynoldsburgmagazine.com garden vegetables all the way through winter? What if I start canning my own vegetables? Maybe I’ll start by turning my plethora of cucumbers into pickle spears or use my abundance of tomatoes to make salsa and sauce. Perhaps I’ll go strawberry picking and make my own strawberry jam. As I do my research, I realize that I am not alone in my dreams. From YouTube to TikTok, there is a whole new generation of gardeners turning to canning, and their reasons for doing so are similar to mine. “To plant a seed is to believe in tomorrow,” the saying goes. What began as a counter movement for me is quickly growing into a beloved hobby that brings me joy and satisfaction. Who will join me? Kiki(Cicak) Caines, is a reviewer of outdoors for Reynoldsburg Magazine. She is a Reynoldsburg High School graduate. and the owner of Fisher’s Gardens Reynoldsburg Magazine • Fall/Winter, 2024
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