Playing in the Dirt Again...

I am renewed in working in my garden again. It took a long time to recover from the hail storm, for both the plants and my heart. A few days after the damage was done, I did a lot of replanting, and although it was late in the season, everything came up. However, I do think in a way it was somewhat experimental to plant more, and in a way it felt something like trying to sort through the rubble after a natural disaster. There was a sadness in the replanting, and yet a feeling of hope in the effort. Either way, it produced another lovely crop of radishes that are about ready to come up now. The spinach came up, and may have done ok, but while I was gone many weeds took over the garden causing slow growth in the spinach. I wasn't too attatched to the second round anyways. The new lettuce mix is well on the way now, and is about the size of the baby lettuce mix you buy in the store.

While we were away on our summer road trip, mom watered for me every day and made sure my messy work of art didn't dry up. I was over joyed to see the changes in it by the time we came home. Peas were ready for picking and they are so sweet! The tomato plants are full of little green fruits and my zucchini squash plant has one baby plus a bunch of big flowers!

Last night for dinner we had veggie burgers topped with Romaine lettuce from my garden!! I was overjoyed to share it, because for whatever reason that is my very favorite part. Before I eat I always bless my food and hold in mind where it came from and all the people that worked hard to get it to my plate, and this time as I did that again, I realized that I was one of those people!! I was so proud of my harvest!

For several days now I have worked once again in my garden haven, and found myself renewed as I worked under the blue sky, feeling the air, digging my toes into the soil,connecting with all that is. Connecting with myself, most importantly. I have weeded out the crazy overgrowness that ocurred while I was gone, and feeling as though the garden thanks me as it breathes a new sense of life and cared-for-ness in the form of large flowers and fast veggie growth.

I have learned so much about different plants, what they need, when to plant them, what to do differently, and what order to plant, as well as what bugs come around, how to attract more bees and how nature repairs itself. I feel so well rounded in this experience and I have just begun. I have learned a lot about myself and how I wish to interact with nature, and about the intricate connection within all life. Its all displayed for me as it magically plays out in my little green sanctuary.