Tomorrow I have my meeting with the leader of the community garden to have my plot officially assigned and learn the basics about the community garden. I can’t wait! Seeing the garden plot is going to make it seem so real.

Today my friend Martha and I went thrift store shopping for garden pots. Unfortunately we didn’t have a lot of luck. I did manage to find this cute little tin-ceiling-tile pot for $.99, but that was it.

My other garden related score was 10 large sized canning jars I found for $.40 each. Since Tuesday is Customer Appreciation day at this particular thrift store I got the whole lot for $3. In my early twenties I did a lot of home canning using farmers market produce and I am hoping to start that up again. Unfortunately I left all of my canning jars in my ex-boyfriend’s parent’s garage when I moved to California so I need to get a new batch.

I’m going to try to make a lot of pickles. My kids can eat a jar of pickles a week, so I think that would be worth canning. We had this exact conversation almost every morning last summer, “What would you like for breakfast today girls?” “Ummmm, Popsicles and ice cream.” “Popsicles and ice cream aren’t breakfast foods. What else do you want?” “Pickles, tomatoes and cheese!” “OK, pickles tomatoes and cheese it is, then.”

I generally freeze tomatoes and pasta sauce, but I am going to try canning salsa and a tomato relish this summer. I love tomato relish on good crusty French bread. I am also going to try my mom’s recipe for dilly beans, which are pickled green beans. They are really good. In fact crusty French bread, tomato relish and dilly beans sounds like an excellent lunch.

Martha and I have made plans to attend a huge plant sale at the State Fair grounds next month. The Friends School in St. Paul puts on the sale every year. It is supposed to be huge and full of really interesting plants. I think it will be a lot of fun.