This may be a completely uninteresting topic to most but
currently for me it’s as refreshing as a crisp afternoon sipping soy lattes and
watching Ellen. This weekend I planted my very first grown up garden! Not
knowing what I’m really doing my dad provided some much needed gardening
knowledge and muscle power to help rototill my dried out dirt plot that was
home to weeds and not much else. Now that it’s transformed into a mini paradise
of soft nutrient rich dirt I was able to plant: watermelons, zucchini,
eggplant, tomato, cauliflower, carrots, wild flowers, lavender, sunflowers,
cucumbers, pansies, catmint, these beautiful big purple flowers, rosemary, poppies, red
cabbage, sweet potato sprouts and a mini strawberry patch. On my modestly small
deck I also have snow peas, kale, swiss chard, basil, more wild flowers, mini
roses and a beautiful frilly large flowering plant. Oh no, it doesn’t end here.
As a final touch I’ve noticed some low spots that really hold water puddles all
day after watering sessions and rainfall, where I’ll be planting Katniss, also
known as arrowhead, which can grow in the soppy wet low spots and provide a
nice tuber to roast and an airy white flower for show.
To say I’m pleased would be an understatement.
I like the feeling of dirt on my hands. I will proudly sport
the elegant tan lines of a wife beater and the equally attractive ankle sock
lines. I will even forgo sitting on the couch for crouching in the dirt to pull
weeds until my legs are sore and my heart is full.
And believe you me, I will be posting some photos of the
progress as my plant babies grow into adulthood.
I’m realizing this is a whole new way for me to commune with
God. I feel His presence in Creation when I immerse myself in the basic
elements that make it what it is. I see the scientific circle of life and the
intricate details that can only have been bridged by one who is loving and wise.
The internal workings of a plant are far more interesting when you consider the
hands that carefully whispered them into creation and the delicate balance and
dependency of all living things. It’s truly breathtaking.
Food for Thought
For a change of topic, here is a helpful
trick I decided to try out last night. Now, some nutritional value is lost, but
the convenience of it might outweigh the cons. I had some kale, spinach and
celery quickly declining in my fridge so last night I decided to juice all of
it with some lemons and freeze it all in ice cube trays. Like I’ve said before,
freshly juiced items quickly oxidize and lose their goodness and spoil,
although freezing is a way to keep juice for longer there are still elemental
reactions to the air. This morning with my frozen green cubes I transferred
them into an airtight freezer container for ready to use smoothie ice cubes. Now
that’s a way to sneak spinach into any anti-greens diet individual! I suggest
for kids using the line “it’s green because The Hulk blessed this smoothie for you
personally.”
Count Down: 21 days until May 16th, my 26th
birthday!
Some interesting garden info I found on companion planting
Have a great week!
