My $200 Tomatoes Just Went Up to $300

I hope you remember a past article I wrote on my $200 tomatoes. I am at it again, the raised bed garden on my deck needs replacing. The old one was rotting our deck even though we had it raised up a bit, so Mike is making me another one on canisters so we can actually move it around. Once I get something on my mind, look out, it must be done as soon as possible. I am not sure if my persistence is a curse or a blessing? Certainly Mike would have a comment on that subject.

We spent the weekend researching what kind of wood was chemical free and safe for garden vegetables. Did you know there are hundreds of different sites out there about red wood, verses cedar, verses salt treated wood (which is safer than it used to be)? After a day of going back and forth about building it, my thought was “let’s just order a pre-made one on the internet”. Mike would not hear of that. He was in his man building, tool carrying mood, so, I still do not have my raised bed garden yet. Seriously, I only plant a few tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and tons of herbs, so it’s not like I am in need of a huge garden. However, I did want it grown totally organic and chemical free, down to the wood used to build it. So here we go again, with my $200-$300 tomatoes.

There is nothing more rewarding than stepping out on the deck and basically picking a salad to eat and some fresh herbs to infuse in my water. We all know how healthy veggies are, but what about herbs? Basil, Thyme, Oregano, all full of aroma, flavor, and nutrients to help us stay well.

Basil- We live in the South so basil is a must. It also grows very easily in this region. I make turkey and basil burgers, Caprese salads and throw some in my regular salads. Basil is my personal favorite because I love to touch the leaves and smell the fragrant aroma. Needless to say, I always have several basil plants in my garden. Basil leaves contain many health benefiting essential oils that are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Basil is very low in calories and contains no cholesterol, but very rich source of many essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Basil contains exceptionally high level of beta-carotene, Vitamin A. It also has Zeaxanthin, a yellow flavonoid carotenoid compound, which is absorbed into the retina where it can filter harmful UV rays from reaching the retina. This helps to protect the eyes against age related disease. Basil also contains good amount of mineral like potassium, manganese, copper and magnesium. Basil leaves are an excellent source of iron.

Thyme- Thyme contains an essential oil that is rich in thymol, a powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, and a strong antioxidant. The oil of thyme is used in mouthwashes to treat inflammations of the mouth, and throat infections. It is a common component of cough drops. All the members of the mint family, including thyme, possess terpenoids which are recognized for their cancer preventive properties.

Oregano- Because of oregano’s essential oils and its ingredients thymol and carvacol, the herb can inhibit the growth of many kinds of bacteria and fungus, including some forms of bacteria that cause serious food-borne illnesses. Oregano is one of the culinary herbs rich in antioxidants, substances that protect your cells from damage. It also slows cell deterioration, thus slowing the process of aging. It also contains around 3.6 mg of vitamin E, which protects red blood cells and helps prevent against vitamin C and vitamin A destruction in your body.

There are so many other delicious and nutritious herbs out there to use in your food or infuse in your water. Give it a try.

See you in the gym.