True Life: My Dad Gardens

My Dad: Kenny 'Kuhl It!'

     My dad is a Mason, a Local 4 Union Brick Layer. He has not only been working at his trade for almost 30 years, he has also been supporting a family for most of his life. His choice to join a union came because of health insurance and choosing what was right for his family.My dad is the Picasso of Brick. That's what I call him, at least. He has worked on hundreds of houses, patios, walls, you name it, all over New Jersey. And he's amazing at it, just ask to see one of his many portfolios he has built throughout the years. A few years ago, the economy started tanking, as you all must remember. Unfortunately, the honest, hardworking guys like my dad were inevitably laid off , and have continued to work less and less, some becoming unable to support their families.

    Everything just seemed to get worse. It's been a tough time for my family, with years between my dad finding union work. We've lost health insurance and have seen savings go out the window. 

Since my dad is nowhere NEAR a lazy person, he has applied his skills and energy elsewhere around the house. He started clipping more coupons than I ever would imagine. He cleaned, heated the house with our wood furnace,and made home improvements by himself, using materials he could find from friends, the side of Route 287 or for extremely cheap. Also, he has been growing an organic garden for the past few years       ( Note: all the brickwork and structure has been designed and built by my dad!). Organic means he doesn't use any pesticides, fertilizers or any other crap on his garden. Only rain water collected in bins, composting, and T.L.C. ( that means Tender Loving Care, not to be mistaken with THC). First it started out very basic, with one plot next to the patio he was working on. But it started progressing, getting bigger and bigger every year he was out of work. Now, the garden is built up a little like this:

IMPORTANT: The garden has not started to grow this year. He's got tons of summer veggies in the sun room inside my house, waiting to be planted outside:

My dog, Panda, watches my dad work in the garden from inside ( poor pup!)

   With all the extra food around the house, my dad saved tons of money on groceries and learned how to make all different types of meals. We've gone from a house of boring burgers, dogs, and deli meats to salads, veggie stews, and more flavor on those burgers, dogs and deli meats!

   The next best thing about my dad's favorite new hobby: it's made us money, on top of saving money on groceries! That's right, my dad grows everything from tomatoes, eggplant, carrots, zucchini, summer squash, peppers, and turnips, of which he sells on our front yard with a veggie stand. It's more like an honor system, he asks neighbors to leave money at the front door if they take anything. My dad's little business has grown throughout the summers. The first year he started his veggie stand he made $200. The next summer he made $225, and this past summer he made over $300! Remember, my dad was selling things out of the ground without buying or adding extra chemicals or growth enhancers from a store, at .50-$1.00 a veggie! Imagine where you could put that money if you made $300 profit off of your backyard? That's one hell of a summer cookout, or Kegger in the woods, or trip to the beach.

   This summer my dad is going all out again. My sister and I even got him fruit seeds.

My plan is to document my Dad's garden this summer. I want to show you all how its done and what you and the environment can get out of it! For all those recent college graduates looking desperately for employment, here's a good way to work off all that job search stress and make a few extra bucks in the process. Your first task is to find a happy garden gnome that will help you get motivated. This is the one I bought my dad:

Also, if anyone wants to add a few fun facts and tips to gardening on a budget, please email me and leave comments!