fresh coriander and broccoli ©Jennifer Morton 2014

Growing your own vegetables is not an easy thing to do. Well, not for me anyway.

I love the idea of growing my own food. I love to just pop out to the herb patch and steal fresh snips of coriander, basil and parsley any time I’m in need.

Right now, my celery is flourishing  – it obviously loves the Australia winter. The stalks are finer and thinner than the ones from the supermarket and a bit more chewy but it’s nice to know that there are no sprays or nasty stuff on it – maybe a few ants.

Gorgeously green celery. ©Jennifer Morton

I do struggle to keep the broccoli going. It seems to go to flower before the vegetable has time to grow much bigger than my thumb. It’s still edible and great for stir-frys.

The snails and caterpillars love my broccoli leaves. ©Jennifer Morton

I’m quite keen to pull my biggest leek and make a leek and potato soup before it gets too warm here in Western Australia. It’s beautiful with fresh or dried Thyme. Yum.

Soon to be soup. My biggest leek is almost ready. ©Jennifer Morton

I want the goods but I don’t want the work involved.

This is a bone of contention between Mr M and I. He moans because I don’t spend any time in the garden (he does most weeding and maintaining).

I just don’t have a green thumb, which is shocking considering my mother and step-father were both professionals gardeners!!

I remember being a teenager and sulking because I had to help weed and pick vegetables. If I had only paid attention and soaked up that education (that I saw as punishment at the time)!! Regret is a bitch.

So, I don’t like weeding, pruning, watering, sun protecting, planting or getting my hands dirty.

But I LOVE picking, preparing and eating freshly grown, chemical-free herbs and vegetables (and it feels like it’s FREE cause you forget how much the boxes, seedlings, soil and gardening tools cost).

My first carrot. How cute it that? ©Jennifer Morton

I think I’m getting better at it. I get out there, if only for 5 minutes, every few days to maintain my scattered gardens. And I reap the rewards at dinner time!

If I can do it, surely anyone can!!

Do you grow your own food? Why?