When I was a child we had a garden every year. It wasn’t an option. It was a major 
source of our food. We had fresh produce all summer. Mom canned and froze everything we didn’t eat. For a family of 6 it was a necessity. I can remember going out with my dad to check our garden. I loved those times with my dad. What I wouldn’t give to be able to walk out one more time with him to inspect the work of his hands. I haven’t had a garden for well over 30 years. Our yard at home has so much shade that it isn’t practical to have a garden. Still, there is nothing like going out to the garden to pick a fresh, sun warmed tomato and eat it. Alright, sometimes you have to fight off tomato worms, and they are really ugly, but it is so worth it.
I am so excited. I feel just like a young girl again. One of our vendors at this year’s Farmers Market will be Tom Brown. According to Farmer Brown, “If you’ve got a deck, you’ve got a garden.” I have a deck, and now I have hope about having a garden! I thought I would share some of his products along with some of his tips. He has rare vegetable plants from all over the globe that he and Joyce are making available to us. He has over 75 types of Cherry Tomatoes from around the world. They are in 5 different colors. I can’t wait to see them. He has strains that range from 50 to 100 days to maturity. He also has hanging baskets with 3 tomato plants per basket. I am 
starting to get excited. I can see myself picking cherry tomatoes from my hanging basket. Everyone has room for a hanging basket. He has full size beaver lodge tomatoes. He told me they are an extremely early variety. You can set the fruit in temperatures down to 45 degrees. That’s a very good thing, because in Ohio we can get 45 degree temperatures in June. He has late heirloom tomatoes. He has Mountain fresh tomatoes. He has yellow Roma tomatoes for clear tomato sauce. He said this is a gourmet delight. He also has cucumbers from around the world–miniature and Japanese to name two.
He also has melons from France, Africa, Southeast Asia and Brazil. We will have an International Farmers Market for sure. Also he has over 40 types of sweet peppers from every corner of the globe–orange, red and yellow. They are all different shapes. He has over 30 types of lettuce. He also has herbs. The herbs he uses are the right variety for container gardening. I can’t wait. I can see my deck garden already bringing in a bountiful harvest!
A tip from Farmer Brown about planting. Since it has been extremely cold and wet this spring, there has been very little corn planted. Farmer Brown will not start offering plants until the middle of May, at the earliest. He said the tropical varieties do not tolerate the conditions we have been having so far this year. He said don’t jump the gun this year. Let the ground warm up and dry out before planting the rare varieties. You will have a greater chance for success. My dad always said, “Don’t put anything into the ground until after Memorial Day.” There were times that I planted before Memorial Day, and I regretted my decision.
For information on container gardening or a plan for a garden on your deck, contact Farmer Tom Brown or Joyce at jars1968@yahoo.com. Can’t wait to show off the produce from my deck garden. Until next time…From our Butcher Block to your Table.
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