My Dad Was Green

As I remember my Dad's birthday, I think about my Dad being "green."  My Dad was green long before it was considered popular or correct to be so.  While I was growing up, being green was just part of our lifestyle.  We grew as much of our own fruit and vegetables as we could.  In doing so, we used only organic fertilizers - manure from our own horses!  We consumed eggs from our own chickens, ducks and geese.  Of course, they were all raised on natural foods - no chemical supplements.  We ate fresh caught fish - caught by our own fishing poles.  We gathered wild mushrooms and hunted for wild asparagus.  

My Dad also taught us the value of recycling.  Back then, we weren't as concerned about saving the planet as we were about earning a few cents.  I remember when we first moved to Colorado and were living in town.  On a weekend afternoon, my siblings and I would head down the street with our little red wagon in search of discarded glass bottles.  When we reached the 7-11, we would trade them in and hopefully have enough money for a soda or an ice cream treat to share.  When we got older, we saved aluminum cans.  One year we made enough money to finance a vacation during our spring break.  When Cassie was little, my Dad had a bag of aluminum cans waiting for her every time we came to visit.  It's not surprising that she is so concerned about the environment and recycling.  

And, of course, there was the composting!  My Dad composted like no one else in the world.  Recently, we had guests for dinner.  One friend was pointing and exclaiming over my compost pile.  Instead of feeling embarrassed that someone had noticed my compost heap, I actually felt quite proud.  After all, composting is a family tradition.

As we cherish memories of my Dad, it's time for me to plan our Spring garden.  

Cassie's Plan for our Kitchen Garden