cooking or gardening?

So last night Talia and I went to Medieval Times to celebrate a friends birthday. It was really cool and has changed quite a bit in the 15 years since I last went. They now have more of a horse show then I remember as well as a hawk show.

I even got a change to chat with the falconer a bit after the show which was really cool. I asked how he got started with hawks. The odd part was even though it was a great time with friends I started to get really depressed because I really haven't felt accomplished in any of the work I have done recently. That is probably because ALL the work I have done has been taken down and mothballed in favour of another product that I have nothing to do with. Seeing all the animals really made me wonder if I wouldn't be happier doing more things with animals and gardens and food related crafts.

So when I got home that night I decided to look into falconry and if there were any clubs or courses out there that would let me get a feel for what it was like. I also found some information on some organic farms that offered internships and the likes but there were all out by Guelph or farther away. I did find the Ontario Hawking Club which seems really cool and they have an interesting workshop in April that I may go to.

But I digress. While I was searching I also wanted to check what was available close by in Toronto which led me back to the George Brown Continuing Education page. I have visited the page in the past (a friend has taken several of their sewing courses) and I was interested in their cooking school. From time to time I like to go and see what is being offered in classes. I was thinking about Culinary Arts I or Healthy Culinary arts I and those are the foundation courses for cooking and recently cooking has been my only fulfilling hobby that I have. But while I was looking around I saw their Arts and Designs page and I have always wanted to take a course of digital arts like 3D modeling or photoshop basics, so I went and looked at what they were offering there and wow was I floored. Not by the digital arts section but by the Garden Design section. I had never even heard of such a certificate.

There aren't a lot of courses being offered and from the descriptions I don't think I would be interested in many of them but I did find 2 courses that really peaked my interest. Edible Gardening in the City and Container Gardening. Both of which are something that I have been trying to do on my own for the last 2 summers. So now I was really torn; Cooking or Gardening.... choices choices choices... After several hours of thought today I have finally decided to concentrate on the gardening for now. Primarily because the gardening courses are a quarter of the cost, but also because given the time of year I think the gardening courses would be of more use to me by helping me get ready for the upcoming growing season. I also felt that gardening is an area that I can improve in a lot more than cooking. I am an ok cook and if i wait another semester of 2 before I take the cooking courses nothing much will have changed.

So to make a long story short: This sprint (March-May) I will be taking an Edible Gardening in the City course. I am supper excited and if I like it then I will take the Container gardening that starts just as this course finishes.