Here in the home garden, I can see that my dad has done an excellent job with the plants we have at our disposal

After spending a few days working on the island of Cubagua, my body—specifically my back—has really felt the strain. I’ve had to take some time off to rest, so I’m at home, taking it easy and focusing on recovery. While walking around the yard, I took a look at the plants we have, and I was in for a wonderful surprise: my dad has put a great deal of effort into keeping them in the best possible condition.

For instance, look at these spinach plants! They were tiny when I left over a month ago, and now they look beautiful. My mom even mentioned that they’ve already harvested some leaves to add to my dad’s meals—in salads and omelets. The only downside is that they were planted right next to a lemon tree and an avocado tree—both of which, for some reason, have been drying out lately.

We also have sweet chili pepper plants and lemon saplings. We’re already getting a small harvest from the chili peppers—not a huge amount, but enough to use in our cooking, thank goodness! As for the lemon saplings, they’re still in their plastic cups, waiting for the perfect spot to be planted. The main thing is keeping them healthy until that time comes—hopefully soon—so we can eventually grow even more.

Finally, there’s the Chinese garlic. It’s doing quite well, though I need to tell my mom to harvest it periodically so it doesn’t just dry out in the ground—as you can see in the photos. I’ll need to tidy that up before I head back to work next week, ensuring they continue to grow as well as they have been so far. So, fellow Hivers, it’s a pleasure to share some of the plants we have here at home—plants that help supplement our diet. I’m sharing this with the #hivegarden community, where we showcase all the progress our plants are making.