Some folks in Blanco have gone back to basics during the coronavirus shut-down, and nothing is more basic than plunging your hands into the Earth, planting seedlings, nurturing them, watching them grow…and eventually eating them as a healthful supper.

Some local families have used the unforeseen downtime to start home gardens.

In the Faris family garden, cilantro, bell peppers, tomatoes and zucchini squash are basking in the Texas sun, unconcerned about a worldwide pandemic.

“We decided to start our garden during the quarantine, so this one is new, but we had a nice garden in Kansas,” said Blanco FFA Chapter President Raylee Faris, who will be a senior during the next school year. She’s been a full-fledged FFA member since 9th grade, and involved in the 4-H Club for 10 years.

The garden eventually will have eight beds.

“It’s time we can spend together while doing something productive,” Faris said. “We spent hours in the garden yesterday.”

Faris pointed out that having a home garden helps the nation’s entire agricultural system, which is stressed.

“With the growing world population, farmers are having to maximize their produce,” she said. “A lot of our produce comes from small-town, rural farms.”

Faris isn’t afraid to work up a good sweat on the brow.

“I don’t like being around technology all the time,” she said. “Getting outside and working releases energy, so sweating it out is a good thing. And then later you get to see the product of your labor.”

‘The best garden we’ll ever have’

Both of the FFA advisers at Blanco High School have started gardens at home.

“My family has started a small herb garden,” said Victoria Tierney. “It was planned long before the quarantine but we just have the time now. Our rosemary is doing great!”

Tierney said that she’s seeing an increase in gardening and landscaping in her neighborhood, with around half of the families on her street working their green thumbs, whether for sustenance or decoration.

“Each time I’ve gone to local garden centers they’re packed,” she said. “Apparently social distancing isn’t required if you’re gardening.”

Tierney thinks the increase in interest in gardening is because folks now have the time to spend on an investment of time and labor.

“Families have taken this time to be resourceful and to realize the importance of being able to provide for yourself instead of relying on large grocery stores,” Tierney said.

Tierney’s fellow FFA adviser, Travis Kersten, also has been busy with his family in their home garden, spending around an hour a day watering, pruning, weeding, fertilizing -- and, most challenging of all, keeping the deer at bay.

“It’s a highlight for our family to see the progress: the new tomatoes, how high the green beans have grown. Our kids are amazed at the process,” Kersten said. “It’s just relaxing and therapeutic.”

He and his wife were admiring their garden, when he remarked, “You know, this is the best garden we’ll ever have.’”

There’s squash aplenty in the Kersten family garden, but luckily there’s lots of recipes.

“My parents had a big garden, so I remember thinking, ‘Oh great, squash for dinner again,’” he said with a laugh. “You just have to get creative in finding ways to use it.”

Gardening leads to sharing, which helps form the fabric of community.

“I’m looking forward to sharing with our neighbors and at church,” he said. “There’s a social aspect to it, to share your abundance.”

Kersten said he’s not expecting to live off the produce from the family garden, but that’s not really the point.

“There’s a real sense of reward when you’re able to supplement what you get at the grocery store,” he said. “It’s a good idea to contribute to your family’s food supply. Many people might not have thought about it until they’re having to go to the grocery store less often, it’s less safe and then you face shortages.”

Kersten’s garden was accomplished in stages, starting with lettuce in February and most vegetables in by the middle of March.

“There’s lots of old wives’ tales about when and what to plant,” her said. “The key is to get your plants in as early as possible, but not too early because there might be a late frost.”

Faris said that anytime can be a good time to start a garden. She suggested looking at websites that detail which plants to put in the ground at any given time of year.

“We usually start some seeds inside in January and February, and let them grow into seedlings,” she said.

Kersten suggested that new gardeners keep their ambitions in check.

“Start small and simple and grow your garden little bit more each year.”