Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Gardening in Hungary

Well, the Hungarians are doing what I just read is something Americans will need to do to aide in the war against global warming. The Hungarians are growing gardens. Whether they have always grown gardens or whether this is a result of two world wars and being under the Soviets when food was hard to come by, I do not know. I do know, however, that it costs money and greenhouse gas emissions to bring produce long distances to markets. One suggestion I have read about is individual or community gardens that provide local produce. Makes sense.
Hungarians call a garden anything around your house. It can be a tree garden, a grass garden, a flower garden, a rock garden, a vegetable garden, etc. Most homes have no lawn, but do have an assortment of “garden” types. Roses are very popular!!! They grow well here and are just beautiful. Flower gardens are not like we would have them, more of an English garden full of assorted flowers. No, they are planted just like a vegetable garden in rows. I have found this very interesting. All flowers I have seen here are available in America. Not all would grow in Idaho, though. The English daisies are wonderful here and spread like weeds, covering entire sections of gardens. I can’t get them to stay alive in my garden in Pocatello!
Grapes are grown quite frequently in gardens, with long rows of vines stretching the length of a lot. Obviously wine and palinka are produced by the owners! Paprika peppers are also everywhere as are tomato plants. Cucumbers vine their way up and around everything also. Fruit trees are in most yards. Cherries and apples are most frequent. Plums and pears follow. Apricots are not forgotten, either. Many families can their produce. We have been lucky enough to be the recipient of many jars of produce given to us by a secretary at the school. What a treat!
All in all, now I can’t wait to get home and go to the Farmers’ Market in Pocatello and feast on all those home-grown goodies! Berries should be in when we get back. Doesn’t get any better than that!

1 comment:

curious said...

daughter will be going to the university in Budapest

what one thing that you feel is very important should she know while she is living there?

what are the customs? do people in the city speak English?