Aggie Wallace had always loved her garden, so when it was time to downsize to a condo, she begrudgingly accepted the fact that she’d have to learn how to garden on a small patio versus the larger yard she was used to.
“I started looking into how to go about it, and that’s when my daughter called to tell me she saw a sign on the side of the road that there was a community garden available to New Hudson residents,” Wallace explained. “Basically you could buy one or two plots to grow whatever you want, and all you’d have to do is water and weed as the community takes care of the rest. I was ecstatic.”
Only a seven-minute walk from her condo, the community garden is where Wallace not only grows a variety of flowers and vegetables, including zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes, carrots and more, but it’s also a great spot to ride bikes to and have a picnic with her grandkids.
Wallace said she makes a number of recipes with the vegetables in her garden, but a grandchild favorite is her Beef and Barley Soup. “It’s not only easy and delicious, but you can add so much of your gardening bounty,” she added.
Beef and Barley Soup
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1 lb hamburger
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Chopped onion to your liking
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28-oz can crushed tomatoes
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2 15-oz cans chopped tomatoes
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2 bay leaves
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7 beef bouillon cubes
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1 cup barley
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3-4 tbsp dried basil
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Any garden veggies you want: celery, carrots, peppers, zucchini, cabbage, etc.
In a pot, brown and then drain the hamburger meat. Add chopped onion and brown the meat a little more. Next, pour in crushed tomatoes, chopped tomatoes, and two (or more, depending on your consistency preferences) cans of water and stir. Add bay leaves, bouillon cubes, barley, basil and vegetables and stir again. Cook time is one hour.
