Sunday, March 14, 2010

Get out and Grow Something!

I love to garden.  I love to put my bare hands in the soil.  I love to watch the plants grow and blossom and bear fruit.  My love of gardening passed down from my Daddy, who farmed the hills of Virginia.

Our little 'farm' is 1/5 acre of VERY SUBURBAN neighborhood, complete with the sounds of planes, traffic, and the busy lives of others.  It's the biggest place we've ever had.  But no matter how small each place has been in our journey, we've gardened.  The local-est of food grown in the organic-est way.  Perfect!

When Mom and Daddy came to share our home, Daddy dug right in and we had the most abundant harvests!  Tomatoes for everyone we knew, cucumbers maturing overnight, peppers of so many varieties, and huge, bee-loved sunflowers!


A little over a year ago, Daddy died suddenly.  It was heartbreaking.  In the time that's followed, I couldn't go into the garden.  It was too hard, too painful, too reminiscent of his work and laughter and joy.  So I let my husband and the weeds take it over.

Time has passed and God in His goodness has healed my heart, and my body is healing after my own surgery.  I felt those old feelings of wanting to get down, get dirty, and grow some stuff.  My husband is a wonder of patience and love and strength, and has been working for several days, uncovering the old garden.  He's following my plan and has pulled everything up, built new raised bed surrounds, and placed them.  We're digging and pulling weeds and filling beds with the rich, healthy soil it took us years to cultivate.  A dear friend contributed her composter, which is being happily filled and tended.  Mom is watching and cheering us on.  Here's a look at the new plan in progress, six 4x4 beds and two 2x4 beds with space in the center for a small bistro set, a resting spot while tending the garden:


Ok, so it's a little rough around the edges right now.  Within a week, with good weather, it will sing!  This year we're planting lettuces, spinach, kale, onions, garlic, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, blueberries and maybe beans.  We've already got herbs growing: rosemary, thyme, mint, chives, borage, and cilantro is coming soon.

I'll keep posting as we progress.  What are you growing this year?  Veggies, fruit, herbs, or just a little flower or two?  Let me know... maybe we can trade recipes for all the abundance to come!

8 comments:

  1. Hello darling girl! Love your blog and thrilled to post here. I reopened my blog once I knew I could transfer my email to it. Please be sure to visit mine too!
    Carla
    aka The Cottage Girl (I don't use names on my blog)

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  2. I love you! Mom

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  3. Donna you should write a book,you are so blessed.GREAT JOB love you mom!

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  4. So much promise in those raised beds! You dad is surely smiling down on you. you have a lovely space here - thank you for stopping by my blog.

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  5. Donna Rae,
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. Robin Birdwell is a great friend and I am so glad she steered us to each other. So enjoyed reading your blog today!
    Blessings,
    Bettina

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  6. Donna, so sorry to hear about your Dad. Your garden is lovely! He'd be proud I'm sure! You've utilized the space really well, too. Can't wait to see how it progresses.

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  7. So sorry about the loss of your dad. Funny how a garden can grow such a bond between father and daughter. I share the same bond with my dad. Your garden looks lovely and I am sure your dad is right there with you in those wonderful beds. Wishing you a wonderful garden this year..

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  8. It's so nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such sweet comments. I can't wait to see how your garden grows. I may be contacting you for gardening advice. I'm still pretty new at this.

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