Cast of Characters

Spring has sprouted in our basement. I started many more tomatoes than we can grow so we can share some with friends and family. Yes, family. The idea is to hand-deliver them to St. Louis when we visit. It is looking green and lush. I hope we can keep up the strong vegetative growth and transplant these stout starts in the ground in 8 weeks where they will be further coddled by a temporary greenhouse because it's cold here.

I started some of our favorite, time-tested heirloom tomatoes: orange strawberry, box car willie, manyel, black from tula, amish paste tigerella. Early and mid-season tomatoes: quick pick, manitoba. Italian tomatoes, seeds purchased in Florence last summer: cuor du bue, san pierre, cos di florentino.

I started our eggplants and peppers, too: thai hot pepper, gourmet and golden bell. We have incredible luck growing really lovely peppers here, much better than we ever did in Oregon. Eggplants also produce an abundance that lasts us for many weeks of our favorite eggplant dishes. And enough to roast and freeze for late fall and early winter dinners.

Cultivation

Sometimes the unknown can be a dark, shadowy corner, something you would rather not unearth. You may encounter a stubborn root, so massive it takes much coercion for the slightest movement. Many more attempts to loosen it from the depths of the earth. Even more visits until you have exposed it sufficiently; you start the slow process of removing it.

When all is said and done, you have shed light on an otherwise dark area. You exposed and examined a stubborn root, a behavior that was weighing you down. The soul breathes in gratitude of this newfound levity. Freedom awaits you by facing those stubborn roots that took hold so many years ago.

A continual cultivation of heart and soul. This is our most important work here.