Volunteers welcome

I’m a sucker for volunteers. A warm-hearted gardener, welcoming everyone who appears friendly no matter they’re growing exactly where they shouldn’t be. I just don’t have the guts to rip a thriving plant from the ground and toss it nonchalantly on the compost heap. These are the survivors, the fighters, the ornery ones who have managed to appear often in spite of all our efforts otherwise.

Plus, I’m the curious sort. What could it be? I hear myself thinking. Of course, some things are obvious, like the potatoes that spring up all over the garden every year. We always manage to miss a spud or two during harvest. But this squash? I’m intrigued. Last year our volunteer compost squash was the most delectable I’ve ever tasted. We still haven’t identified its heritage, but we did save some seed so we could plant it with intention this year.

Or the tomato in my corn patch, or the pretty flower in the bed by the front porch. . .

I have no idea what this is, but I’m sure it is some sort of tenacious weed that will come back year after year all over my yard. But, just look at those scalloped leaves and that dainty yellow flower. Gorgeous! (In the spirit of full disclosure, I did tear this one out before it went completely to seed.)

So my garden is a little wild, a little messy, bordering on chaos. But it feeds me…in more ways than one. How does your garden feed you?

Come visit me Over the Fence for more growing, eating and weeding the organic way!