This, world, is a blog that has been a long time coming. I've been writing it in my head for years, usually while out in the garden, in the midst of my battle to keep the hops from invading the strawberries.

I love, truly love, only a few things in this little world: my God, my wife, my family and friends, good food, good beer, good music... and gardening. (Keep coming back daily as I expect this list to grow to the point of deletion, for fear I might offend someone or some thing in my life.)

For my first post, I'll keep it short and sweet, and explain why I love gardening by sharing with you this old black and while photo of my grandfather, Jayson Grant Buzby (1893-1967), or "Jadie" if you knew him. I unfortunately never had the privilege...

I am told that my grandpa was one of the original Alaska Homesteaders in the early part of the 20th Century. He built a home on a large plot of richly forested land with his extended family in North Pole, outside Fairbanks, and this was his greenhouse, c.1960. My father, Sam Sr., who has told me many a tale of his father, says that on especially cold Alaskan spring nights, Jay would sit up all night in his greenhouse, keeping the fire going in his little wood stove so that he and his tomato plants would not freeze -- all this so that his family could have fresh tomatoes (real tomatoes, not the kind you get at Walmart, not even the ones that "look fancy 'cause they got the whole branch with 'um").

Grandpa Jay, from a family of dairy farmers, loggers and gardeners, loved to grow things. He helped raise the garden-lover who helped raise me. I feel a true, deep family connection when I'm out there tending the tomatoes in my little suburban garden patch. I never knew Grandpa Jadie, but it's comforting to know that my love for the smell of tomato vines is a trait I come by honestly.

Happy planting, good night for now.

Sam

Ps. Here's a little inspiration from nearly 53 years ago for a great season in 2011!
Thanks Grandpa :)