Chapter 1: The Bounty of Isolation

For nine years, I found myself alone, cultivating eight flourishing gardens.

These years could be termed barren, yet that would be misleading, given the fruitful nature of my gardening endeavors. They marked a significant time following my divorce, a period when solitude enveloped me. These years were challenging and devoid of companionship, yet tending to my gardens became a source of solace.

During this time, I grew a variety of tomatoes—Early Girls, Better Boys, red cherries, yellow plums, and occasionally Romas. I even ventured into growing San Marzanos. Each summer, my plants thrived, their leaves glowing with the warmth of the season, releasing a delightful aroma when brushed against. By late July, their fruits would swell and blush, partially hidden by lush greenery, and I allowed them to reach peak ripeness before harvest.

Through the process of growing tomatoes and other vegetables—cucumbers, Asian eggplants, adventurous zucchinis, tangy tomatillos, and hearty kale—I embarked on a journey of self-discovery, turning inward during my period of isolation.

Section 1.1: The Art of Tomato Sauce

As I gathered my harvest, I transformed my bounty into sauce. I would carefully arrange the day’s pickings in a large stainless-steel bowl and pour boiling water over them to easily peel the skins away. Each gentle squeeze would cause the skin to rupture, leaving me with plump tomatoes, ready to release their juices. I would quarter them and place them into a tall pot specifically designated for this task.

As the pot simmered for hours, the tomato mixture reduced, filling my kitchen with the sweet-tart aroma of concentrated tomato, mingling with garlic and basil.

Despite feeling the weight of solitude, I learned to appreciate my own company during those years.

Subsection 1.1.1: New Beginnings

Now, I find myself remarried and residing in a new home, one where a vegetable garden is no longer an option. I’ve adapted by starting seedlings for houseplants in a makeshift greenhouse in my basement. I attempted to grow tomato plants in pots on my deck, but they struggled—leaves turned yellow and the fruits remained small and underwhelming. Today, I harvested a modest yield.

I prepared them by skinning and quartering despite their pale and woody insides, cooking them down with garlic and fresh basil from my guest bedroom. After hours of simmering, I was delighted to produce a respectable marinara.

Chapter 2: Life Lessons from the Garden

The first video titled "I, Tomato: Morning Star's Radical Approach to Management" explores unconventional management techniques through the lens of tomato cultivation, emphasizing growth and nurturing.

The second video, "How We Grow These 4 Tomatoes & Why We Chose Them," offers insight into selecting and cultivating specific tomato varieties, underlining the importance of choice in gardening and life.

The original narrative was published on The Good Men Project. About the Author: Georgia Kreiger resides in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where she teaches creative writing. She is a published author of creative nonfiction and poetry, with her chapbook titled Falling: A Memoir in Verse released by Finishing Line Press.