Have you ever heard the advice to follow your passion and you will never work a day in your life? Well, I disagree with the second half of that sentence entirely, but I agree that when we are searching for our dreams, the next goal in life, or just a new hobby, we should follow our passion. You know the thing wakes you up in the morning. That idea that moves you towards action. The reasons why you to do the things you do. Following our passion can lead us to some strange places though and today will be a story about how my love of spicy food turned me into a plant mom.
Let’s lay some ground work first. I am a huge technology nerd, my house is smart, my phone contains all of my information, I game, I watch shows almost entirely through the internet. My job is to fix broken electronics. I am a huge nerd, and darned proud of it. So many were surprised at the end of last summer when I posted a photo of a large 4×8 raised garden bed that I built! Today I am amending the soil and getting ready to plant my spring crops and I could not be more excited.
My adventure into gardening happened almost on accident. I was looking at some things to do with my backyard. Hang a hammock. Plant some bushes maybe? I was not interested in starting a farm. Then the pandemic hit and like most people I sought out ways to take my mind off the chaos on the other side of the TV screen. I turned to YouTube channels about camper vans and gardening. It always starts small doesn’t it? In early April I wanted to give this gardening thing a shot. I was going to start a bucket garden, and my friends were ready. Almost overnight I had buckets and soil and compost! I planted tomato’s, and radishes and they did ok. It was too hot for the lettuce. It was a start but not a very exciting one. If I had only planted those tomato’s I might not have built the garden box. What turned me around was something not related to gardening at all. Spicy food.
I love spicy food. I know what you are thinking because I see the same look from waiters at restaurants “Oh, the cute little girl wants something spicy?” Yes. The hotter the better. I love really, really, REALLY, spicy food. One of my friends (who watched in awe as I devoured Scorpion Pepper Hot Wings) just so happened to gift me one of the spiciest pepper plants around, the Carolina Reaper. I named her Caroline. With Caroline and her Habanero sisters I took to gardening quickly. I Wanted to keep my spicy plants alive! And you know what? I managed to not kill them! Both did moderately well and produced a nice number of peppers. I harvested their seeds and dried them out before grinding them into powder. I have stayed nice and warm this winter with lots of extra hot wings and Indian food*.
After Caroline, I was hooked on gardening. The bucket garden would clearly need an upgrade. I bought a small hydroponics system to grow food in the winter. I Bought a dump truck full of dirt! This spring I will plant Carolines seeds in the raised garden I made in her honor. This year I want to grow heaps of peppers, tomato’s and other yummy vegetables, the sky is the limit! And it all might not have happened had I not already loved spicy food. Getting Caroline as a gift turned my garden experiment into something that I really care about all year round. I don’t plan to do much with it beyond growing and sustaining my little garden farm, but that’s enough of a dream for me.
There is no greater story than that of the dreamer searching for her passions. Maybe those passions will lead you towards a journey you least expect. The thing is, don’t stop looking. Search, pursue, embrace those passions. This is the path that will lead you towards your dream, and that path is always worth taking.
*On a side note, have you ever dried your own peppers? They come out so much more textured and flavorful than you would expect. The Reaper powder I have is super spicey but also buttery and velvety. Simply delicious!