From the Ground Up: Why Garlic Is the Garden Gift That Keeps on Giving
There’s something undeniably satisfying about harvesting your own food—and this week, our family is celebrating the humble but powerful garlic. We’re pulling up bulbs by the armful, and despite the weeds trying to take over, the garden is alive, thriving, and producing real food our family can actually use. It’s messy. It’s beautiful. It’s a blessing.
Our boys have been beaming with pride watching the fruits of their labor spring to life—spinach, salad greens, and now garlic. There’s nothing like watching little hands plant something months ago and now dig it up with wide eyes and muddy fingers. These are the moments that make the mess worth it.
Why Garlic Deserves a Spot in Every Garden
Whether you have a small raised bed on your porch or rows of crops stretching across your property, garlic needs to be on your planting list. Here’s why:
1. It’s Ridiculously Easy to Grow
Garlic practically grows itself. You plant it in the fall (or early spring, depending on your zone), mulch it well, and forget about it. No fuss, no major pest issues, and very little upkeep. By mid to late summer, you’ve got full heads ready to harvest.
Even if your garden is "a weedy mess" like ours, garlic stands its ground. It’s a tough, resilient plant that thrives with just a bit of love and planning.
2. Garlic is a Health Powerhouse
This tiny bulb is packed with big benefits. Garlic is known for its immune-boosting properties, heart health support, anti-inflammatory powers, and even antimicrobial effects. It’s a staple in natural remedies and a nutritional workhorse that deserves a place in every pantry.
3. It Stores Well and Keeps Giving
Garlic stores for months in the right conditions, meaning your harvest will feed your family well into winter. Plus, you can easily save some of your best bulbs to plant again next season, keeping your garlic supply going year after year.
4. It’s a Kitchen Essential
From hearty soups to quick sautés, garlic is the backbone of flavor in most home-cooked meals. When you’ve grown it yourself, every clove carries the taste of your hard work—and that flavor is unmatched.
So yes, we may have weeds and chaos in our garden, but we also have real food. Food our boys helped grow. Food that will nourish us, flavor our meals, and remind us that even in the mess, there’s beauty and bounty.
If you haven’t planted garlic yet, consider this your nudge. It’s not just a crop—it’s a gift, and every garden, big or small, deserves the joy of harvesting it.
