By: Barb Magee | July 12 2010

As a Midwest girl, I acquired a big dose of practicality and perseverance during my formative years. Hard work was no stranger to me and my siblings and I still recall a quaint but relevant proverb evident in my upbringing that still lives in my bones today: Necessity is the Mother of Invention.  In last week's post I mentioned I'd be sharing my Lawn to Food journey, an attempt to make the dishes that come out of my kitchen as "local" as possible. But this story actually started in the late 1990's when I lived amid the agrarian life of Napa Valley.  Working in the wine industry during that time, there was plenty of opportunity to watch the seasonal rhythm of bringing food and wine to the table. Having moved to Southern Oregon since then, my gardening efforts have undergone significant changes from the postage-sized garden I started with. What can I say. Gardening is my soul salvation in a hectic busy life and I'll do anything to get my hands in dirt on the weekends!


However, when I bought my first home, there was one thing standing between me and the repertoire of ethnic dishes and incredible desserts (hey, that's what everyone else says!) I am driven to create.  A lush, green, water-guzzling lawn! So, you guessed it! Enter Craigslist and that Mother of Invention theory.

Knowing that you can sell just about anything on Craigslist, I placed an ad that simply said, "Free sod". Within hours two 20-Something kids with new condos, two kids, and no lawns were first in line, and in no time they managed to rent a sod cutter, remove the lawn, roll it up and transport it home. After a little creativity and the sweaty contributions of a sturdy helper, the blank canvas of my future potager emerged.


Two years and pounds of veggies later, the garden continues to respond to my efforts to tease out the best it can produce. Frankly, this year brings another challenge in the form of a longer, wetter, colder spring...and we're already getting shorter days of sun! So, doubt and hope are in serious competition! Next week I'll post a Lawn:Food update (to prove my garden looks better than this photo), but in the meantime check back for musings on what's local in Taiwan!

Your turn now! What are you doing new this year to grow your own? Let's talk, fellow foodies!