A Note from Michelle McCollum

Bare-footed with a hoe in hand, I make my way to the garden. The garden and I have a love-hate relationship. Some say that gardening is therapeutic and I’m truly jealous of those folks. Try as I might, I’ve never been able to conjure up that euphoric feeling; instead I suffer through the work and find joy only in the harvest.

The Upcountry’s infamous red-clay is as relentless as the heat and sweat is dripping from the tip of my nose by the time I finish hoeing the first row of Big Boy tomatoes. I ask myself why I wait until the sun is over the trees before making my way outside, but I know the answer. Saturday is the only day for enjoying that extra cup of coffee (ok, extra two cups) in peace. So, suck it up, Buttercup.

I cannot explain the joy I feel when I spot my first cantaloupe and watermelon of the season. The site of those golf-ball sized beauties keeps me going and reminds me why I garden. So, why do I garden? There are two reasons: tradition and healthy eating. Essentially, I find great pride in honoring the gardening tradition of my childhood when the entire, and I mean entire, family would sit under the shade of a pecan tree shucking corn and snapping peas. Oh, how I miss those days! And although I hate the tedious tasks of weeding and watering, I delight in the fact that I’m eating not just organic food, but MY organic food.

And, so, it’s with this same thought process that we bring you The Southern Edge. Carolinians feel profound responsibility and great pride in holding to our sacred traditions. Yet, at the same time, we embrace contemporary thought and style. Join us as we celebrate the blending of traditional and modern living through each chapter of The Southern Edge.

Enjoy!