my city garden: tradition meets modern life

Every time I step into my small backyard, I’m transported back to my grandmother’s garden in rural Ohio. She taught me to plant tomatoes by the moon and believed in the healing power of soil under your nails. Now, surrounded by concrete and the hum of traffic, I try to keep her traditions alive. But my neighbors, especially the younger ones, prefer sleek raised beds and hydroponic towers—gardening apps in hand, always chasing the next trend. Last summer, a heatwave scorched our city. My old-fashioned tomatoes wilted, while my neighbor’s hydroponic lettuce thrived under LED lights. It made me question: are we losing something precious by abandoning the old ways, or are we just adapting to survive? Our community garden meetings often get heated. Some argue for native plants and pollinator patches, others want manicured lawns to keep the HOA happy. I miss the wildness of my childhood, but I also see the beauty in these new methods. Do we cling to tradition, or embrace change? Can we find common ground in our shared love for growing things, even as the world—and the weather—changes around us? #citygardening #traditionvsinnovation #familymemories #Gardening