Garden of Eaten
Garden of Eaten began with an old pickup truck, a bed full of fresh herbs and vegetables, and a little wordplay that made me laugh.
I can't help myself.
Whenever I spot an old pickup truck, I look.
They're scattered around town and, I suspect, scattered across the country too.
Some have been beautifully restored.
Others seem perfectly content to let nature take the wheel, collecting coats of kudzu, ivy, blackberry canes, pine needles, desert dust, salt air, and maybe even a soft little collar of moss.
I've always wondered about them.
Who drove them?
What did they haul?
How many family stories rode home in the bed of that old truck?
How many gardens did they help plant?
How many pumpkins, Christmas trees, dogs, kids, and muddy boots have climbed in and out over the years?
Old trucks seem to carry memories just as well as cargo.
One day, while thinking about all those wonderful old classics, I imagined one that had retired from hauling lumber and feed.
This one found a tastier assignment.
Instead of fence posts and hay bales...
It was overflowing with fresh vegetables, herbs, flowers, and one curious little chicken who appeared to think she was helping.
That's when the words pulled into my imagination.
Garden of Eaten.
I laughed.
Not because I was trying to be clever.
Because I immediately thought of my friend, Jeni.
Jeni owns a meal prep business where fresh, local ingredients are always part of the plan whenever possible.
Delicious healthy food.
Beautiful presentation.
Loving care.
About as close to a "Garden of Eaten" as one could hope for.
This happy truck seemed to roll in slowly, carrying a little rust, a lot of character, and a grin.
Somewhere out there, another old truck may be sitting under pine needles, blackberry canes, desert dust, salt air, kudzu, or moss...
waiting for someone to notice.
One of my favorite parts of creating is noticing how ideas continue to grow.
Long before I wondered where "spill the beans" came from, my friend's love of fresh ingredients had already inspired a Garden of Eaten greeting card. After this local market visit and my curiosity about the phrase, I created another variation just for her, spelling EATEN with green beans, herbs, and tiny garden blossoms.
I've included a little peek below because it still makes me smile.
Wander a Little Further
This was the first Garden of Eaten design, inspired by my friend’s love of fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation, and thoughtfully prepared meals.
A later variation created especially for her used green beans, herbs, and tiny garden blossoms to spell EATEN. That playful detail eventually wandered into another curious food phrase story.
You can follow that particular rabbit trail in Why Do We Say “Spill the Beans?” or visit the growing Curious Food Phrases collection to see what else is being served.
Where will you Scatter Joyfulness today?
