SUBURBAN FARMING: Joining the Movement of Non-Processed Food and Simple Self-Reliance

As an active adolescent who surrounded myself solely with musical instruments, I never once thought I'd find myself interested in gardening or planting things. When you're living at home, still in grade school or community college, and don't have any notable bills to speak of, it's easy to get used to having a fridge full of food from Whole Foods Market or something of the like. Then got out on my own, became independent, and then one day: "Bye Whole Foods, can't afford you anymore. I have substantial grocery bill now." The whole interest in this movement and way of life started as a honey-do for my lovely wife Katie.  Digging and lifting.

We got to know all the local independent farmers at the McKinney Farmer's Market, and came across all the local people who could sustain a healthy crop right from their backyards. Whether it was completely urban, or semi-rural property; it was eye opening and inspiring, to say the least.

In our first West McKinney home we began with just one of those Home Depot raised bed kits you could put together in 5 minutes.  I think they're about 4 x 4 and you just connect the corners.

Garden from Summer 2014- old house, after we went to cinder.

8 x 4 kit garden, Spring/Summer 2013 in old house before we went to cinder.

We took it to two of these connected together by year two, and then by year three we removed all the wood and went to cinder. While we weren't too thrilled with the outcome of the tomatillo crop as we were in the previous two years, it flourished nonetheless.

Overabundance of Tomatillos- September 2012

We tried the "companion gardening" trick we saw on our social media feeds, integrating  herbs and vegetables.  We planted rosemary in between the various types of tomatoes, green and wax beans.

Our experiment with "companion gardening" Spring 2014 after going to cinder.

We recently moved across town, and half the reason we bought the house was for the pre-existing raised bed garden with dirt already in the backyard. Because we no longer have a Homeowner's Association, we could expand upon it shamelessly!  It's a good 8 x 16 and a perfect canvas for perfecting our craft of growing our own produce.  While Katie has a pretty solid understanding of growing and maintaining a vegetable garden, having grown up with them, and I'm catching on, we are by no means, "experts" or "master gardeners".   We just love the experience of working together to introduce new vegetables, working through improvements and tweaking it each year; based on the survivability during Texas' very unpredictable weather patterns. Most importantly, we're making healthy memories as a family.

Just tilled the new 8 x 16 raised bed garden the other day.  Please ignore the ailing fence.  We are getting a new one this week.  Fall/Winter 2014- New House

What's your story, McKinney? Do you have a backyard garden or ideas you'd like to share? Stay tuned for more posts on progress!

Sunday Brunch at Harry's at the Harbor: Food & Family

Photo Credit: Livin The Good Life: Blog

ADVENTURE:
I may or may not have mentioned that I watch a lot of Food Network, Cooking, and Travel Channel; taking a liking to Anthony Bourdain's Layover and No Reservations.  I also regularly have these channels on while the road-tripping hosts such as G. Garvin, Guy Fieri, and others of the like are on.  I find that I like doing sort of a localized version of these various adventures.  Sorry to disappoint, but I'm still not a foodie blogger or a food critic.  I don't like being critical.  A good meal is a good meal, and an adventure is an adventure. 

THE WANDERER (My Wife)
I love wandering with my wife, Katie, because it seems that she always stumbles upon the good food! Since she is the chef of our household, I trust her judgment on these places, and when she cooks, I eat everything she puts in front of me. We wandered upon Harry's at the Harbor while striking a pose or two for maternity photos around the water fountain down by the tower in Adriatica Village.   Unfortunately, doctors generally recommend that while pregnant, seafood should be limited, so we shelved this gem in our minds for a future visit, not knowing at the time that they had a full-on Brunch menu that included an English Breakfast! Being half British, I never pass on an opportunity for a traditional English Breakfast. 

HARRY'S AT THE HARBOR:
Last weekend I got a call from my Aunt Harriet asking us to join her, as well as my Memaw, and great Aunt Violet Crouch Beatty for lunch. Since my Aunt Harriet is not a McKinney native, she always asks that I recommend the location for McKinney gatherings.  A perfect opportunity to try this gem we had stumbled upon! Another McKinney adventure in the making. As the great decider of Sunday Lunch, I revisited the idea of Harry's at the Harbor and noticed they had a brunch menu, and some nice Opening Hours for an independently owned eatery for a Sunday.  The festivities of McKinney Oktoberfest were full swing into Day 3 in the Square, and I needed a quaint spot to spend time with my elders, and pass Little Fi around for cuddles.

Family time is always to be cherished, so where we get together as a family for a meal is also really important.  Harry's is advertised as a sports bar, but while I'm there, I don't feel like I'm at Buffalo Wild Wings during the World Cup.  I have yet to experience Harry's by night during a major sporting event, but by day, Harry's at the Harbor was spot on.

THE FOOD & FAMILY:
I wanted an Englishman's breakfast. I got one. I had been craving an English Fry-up for weeks, and have been too on-the-go to stop and have one.  I ordered the Banger Breakfast which consisted of 2 Banger Sausages, 3 strips of bacon, 2 pieces of toast, and 2 fried eggs.  It showed up to the table nice and hot, like a perfect plate of food.  Katie ordered the eggs Benedict, which she subsequently discovered was the best Eggs Benedict in town and that we must come back often.   Harry made a stop at our table, and had some very kind words to say to us about the many generations sitting at our table.  There were four generations sitting at the table for lunch, and shortly after, there was one giant piece of Strawberry Shortcake and 5 spoons sent to our table on the house.  Good service,  a kind gesture, and a wonderful treat.

UNWINDING:
So, we now have a new breakfast hangout to throw into our Sunday routine, not to mention, a new place to throw into the rotation for family birthday celebration dinners.  To top it off, I can come back later to unwind.  I'll sit on the porch overlooking Adriatica Harbor and have a Franconia to bring the weekend to a close. 

Photo Credit: getmckinney.com [Amy Rogers]

HARRY'S AT THE HARBOR HOMEPAGE

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