Kitchen gardens

Planting a vegetable garden may be this summer's "in" thing as more people try to find ways to combat the rising cost of food.  Kitchen gardens in backyards and in pots on decks most often will include tomatoes and beyond that, most any other vegetable depending on the lot size. 

We've long had a summer herb garden, there's just nothing better than walking out the door and cutting basil, parsely, dill, thyme, oregano, cilantro, whatever, to add to meals.  And, the cost is certainly much less than spending $3.00 for a couple leafs of the same.  This year we're adding several varieties of tomatoes, including some heirloom plants as well as squash, eggplant and peppers.  No sweet corn, past experience taught us that the squirrels and raccoons will strip the stalks bare before we even know things are ripe.  Besides, Fournie's and Keller's farmstands in Collinsville serve us corn very well.

All you need for a useful kitchen garden is a spot with sun.  Nature, and a bit of watering, takes care of the rest.