Once Upon a Seed. ...

He handed me the bag of grapefruits and the 2 bunches of celery I hadn't asked for, medicine from a tree/plant. It then dawned on me that something truly remarkable had just happened: fully grown foods having begun their lives as seeds. Once upon a seed, there grew a grapefruit, then celery. Here they were, all grown up ready to eat or to be juiced.

My husband was doing what came naturally: buying simple ingredients for me to turn into yummy treats. The grocery store was near his office, if an emergency run was required. I was surrounded by former seeds, these luscious things, now, all grown up calling themselves this or that. They could be paired with other 'cell' mates: radishes, celery, grapefruits, oranges, lettuce, for an extraordinary assault on our taste, texture, visual, smell senses and, last of all, our health. It all seemed quite remarkable. Unrecognizable seeds had morphed into an adult grapefruit and celery, this time.

We were fortunate. Many people had chosen to grow food, as a career. Someone had to do it. It was not easy but someone had to. Many someones, in fact. Food keeps us alive. In their infancy, these foods began as seeds. Plant too many, the yield might not grow well. Floods, droughts and freezing spells cast doom upon the picture of a perfect harvest. Seeds planted deep within the large field or small garden needed to be done. Protecting these life saving powerhouse gems of future nutrition was not easy. Predators abound, too. They had to live, on their raw diet. They had young ones to feed, too. But first momma bear has to eat.

Digging, planting, watering and fertilizing was an art. I should know. I do not possess the skill. I am trying and will keep on trying to learn to be better. (“Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better than your best.”) I have listened to the experts. I have seen their successes. The soil of the seeds need to be perfect. Knowing how is a life long skill to be learned and respected. I have watched, in sadness, the ruination of my efforts. Crop rotation is a must, too. Last year, organic corn had been my focus. I planted too close though the stalks grew tall and healthy. The ears of corn were present but the kernels were not. What happened? Where did I go wrong? The celery and grapefruit had begun their lives as seeds, too. As I moved to put one on the wrought iron shelf and the other in the fridge, I marveled at how beautiful they had become since their beginnings, months ago.

 

Having food year long is a gift. If no one bothered, where would we be? We shop at grocery stores, most of the time. What if the shelves were bare? Growing food was some else's career choice, not mine. And it was not a game to me, either. Once upon a time there were Macintosh, granny smith, red delicious. Now the selection is mind blogging, all started from seeds or seedlings. Do not get me started on how to plant trees for the apples, peaches and plums out there. The how-to-process for growing food is an encyclopedia to behold. Now imagine all the fruits and berries available and the chapters or encyclopedias required to understand all of it, then do it and succeed, year after year.

For several years we've been trying to grow raspberries, transplanted from a woman, my late mother-in-law, whose green thumb was well known. Pail after pail of raspberries she brought forth. Could the climate zone - Saskatchewan - be the deciding factor in her abundant harvest? We keep on trying, keeping rabbits away, adding top soil and sheep compost as needed, behind the 3-foot-tall movable decorative metal fences. Fertilizer, anyone? Trellises to hold them upright and the removal of weeds all help to keep them safe and healthy. Raspberries galore, one day, I hope. It's a miraculous gift.

As I look at the broccoli 'bouquet' on the counter, bought at its summer low price, I was reminded again of this superfood's origins, as a seed, once upon a time. How did it manage to get here? There were so many for sale yesterday. All perfect, large, cheap and ready to devour. (Steamed is advisable to lessen its 'grip' on my thyroid gland). It is also a superfood. As I look around the kitchen, I see apricots, a food, until a few months ago, I did not eat. I like its taste and will eat it now for a particular health reason. There many hurdles to overcome. But someone planted them, watched them grow, protected them from predators and climate havoc, then made sure all of it was readily picked, gently, on its maturation date then sent to market for us to buy.

How fortunate we are, so very fortunate. Here in this climate zone, we live in a magical kingdom where food is grown all over the place. To think, all of it was a seed, once upon a time. Wow, seems quite the magical kingdom, if you ask me.