Carrot Apple Salad

When springtime stirs in the South, gardens begin coming back to life. Vegetables are planted with hopes of soon finding their way to the table, and the first bits of green begin to break through the soil. It’s a season filled with fresh starts, muddy boots, early-morning watering and the dreams of all the home-cooked meals those little plants will soon become.

When I was younger, my parents kept a small backyard garden, and one of my favorite memories was pulling carrots from the ground. I can still picture grabbing those bright green tops, giving them a gentle tug and watching them slowly come up through the dirt. Brushing off the soil and seeing what had been growing beneath the surface brought joy to that little girl. It was in that moment I made the connection between hard work, patience and bringing good food to the table for the people you love.