Expanding the realm of my veggie empire this year has thrown me once again into the strange world of planning and research, a place utterly foreign to my usual chaotic gardening style.

On a recent dreary, soggy Saturday, I summoned my inner gardening guru and made the bold decision to direct sow some seeds in a few of the newly turned plots in the back veggie garden.

Gardening, for me, is a journey that unfolds in three meaningful ways: it's about the beauty that words can't capture, cultivating fresh and delightful bites for my plate and yours, and savoring a bit of outdoor therapy—far more budget-friendly than the alternative.