GARDENING

I believe it was 1991 or 1992 — I was about 13 or 14 — when I first saw the commercial for the Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia Herb Garden. I don’t know why, but I wanted one. It was on the short list for every Christmas, birthday or gift-giving occasion wish list since I saw that dumb commercial. Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! I never did get the Chia Herb Garden. I never could find it at Walgreens. I never sprinkled sweet basil over my grandmother’s chicken piccata (my grandmother was Chicana, she never made chicken piccata, but I think a kid cooking with her grandmother and sprinkling fresh herbs on the food was featured in the commercial, so you get the point). With my dream unfulfilled, I charted new courses away from the elusive herb garden. Eventually, it was out of mind…except for the jingle. Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

This made me think: why did I want the herb garden? How would I use my herb garden? What herbs would I plant?

Fast forward to the here and now. Casa Almanza is developing its green thumb, quickly. This is all thanks to Jessica. Also, the children. As you can see, they are essential to our planting efforts. The sweat and soul Jessie has placed in our garden is truly awe inspiring. You may visit Casa Almanza and see our garden and think, hmm, nice garden. But it truly is more than that. It is an extension of her talent and ability. It’s what happens when Jessie puts her mind to something. It just turns damn beautiful.

So, back to my herb garden. We recently purchased a wood box herb garden that I assembled. Jessie instructed me on placing soil, planting herbs, fertilizing and watering. It now holds Italian oregano, thyme, Serrano peppers, dill, rosemary and parsley. Yes, friends, I finally got my herb garden. The “how” and “what” have been answered. I needed not the tch-tch-tchotchke herb garden. I needed the bona fide, pro herb garden that comes with taking pride in improving your back yard. The “why” I will answer on my own blog, because that’s another story. For now, I am going to dry some Italian oregano and use it to spice some menudo … just like my grandmother used to make.