10.02.2008

new life.

The garden is planted! It has been an ongoing project but all the seeds were tucked snugly in their new bed this past weekend. It has been such a joint effort with my mom and dad giving me the motivation I needed to get things rolling. The weekend before last, they gave me a call, knowing my desire for a raised bed, saying they were bringing over the materials to build it up. Not only that, but they also brought me some of the most beautiful earth to lay in the bed. And the smell of that soil! Oh my heavens. 1/3 part sand, 1/3 part silt, and 1/3 part organic material (aka good old manure). I could have rolled in it all day long. Ha! Seriously, I know I was meant to live on a farm by the way I enjoy that smell. So earthy, so alive.
So, I stepped into full gear after their phone call...trying to rake every rock out of the designated garden area. With help from my mom, it got done. My dad built the bed and we hauled the soil from their truck to it's new home. Days later, I built a (very ammature type ) fence and I started planting the seeds...each one nestling in with the vision of what possibilities await us. It all got done because of the love and understanding from my dear parents who know how much it meant to me. I have much gratitude for that.
There is something very connective about even the "idea" of growing your own food. The same day that we were getting everything together, I got so much energy from it all that I started talking about the chicken coop I wanted to put in...and isn't there enough room for a couple of goats in our backyard??? My mind got away from me, but quickly returned as I began to understand the work that goes into each act of sustainability. A garden is pleasurable labor...but it takes commitment and I anticipate that there will be many great lessons learned from our relationship together.
Each day I have been sending out my hopes to the resting seeds. "Oh please, something grow!"
This morning my hopes met their intentions.
Two little radish sprouts peaking out from their nest.
Hello new growth!
There was something so renewing to me in seeing this life. I have been imagining them each resting, opening, pushing against resistance, moving forward in new growth and asserting their life in every way. I resonate with that and I am rooting for them through the journey, offering whatever gifts of love I can...water, encouragement, patience, space.
It was a joyful sighting this morning to see something surviving, thriving...living on!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, Jess! I stopped by today and was excited to see your garden. What a thoughtful blessing from your parents. That is the same mixture we used in ours and things have done well. I don't know what you have but plant watermelon sometime. It is so cool because it TAKES OVER! Pumpkins would do the same. I just looked and our huge pumpkin vine area is dying (I'll have to ask Matt what the deal is). Anyway, I am so excited for you. It is so cool to grow your own things. Several times over the last few months we had bruschetta for dinner with home made bread and everything else from the garden. Basil is the best. We use it all the time. Wow, I have gone on. Wishing you many wonderful hours enjoying the fruits (kind-of) of your labor. Love you all!

Sara said...

This is so wonderful, Tim and I are working on our earth out back this weekend to get it ready for our garden as well, wish us luck. I am excited to see everything sprout and come to life...

Andrea and Blake said...

what a beauty, your garden looks way better than ours did - we only had one of your boxes(size) and it did pretty good, we had it too close to our cinder block wall and the heat burned our corn but everything else did great (carrots, cucumbers, peas). I hope to do another one in this house! best of luck, and it's tons of fun to see it grow - I bet Asher will have a blast! keep us posted

Jamie said...

Yay! :) I tried starting on mine, but can't find the dirt below all the rock. :( Because of this I'm going to have to wait for a cooler day....this girl can't do that kind of work in 105 heat!!
Great job!

Debbie said...

It looks so beautiful! I can only imagine how thrilled you will be when you make your first meal from your garden. Enjoy the process and the yummy goodness! :)

kimberly said...

yes, we know the thrill it has been for you....and i thought i noticed you rolling in the dirt when no one was watching! :)
so happy to see those little sprouts yesterday (the food ones) and of course the other ones too!
:0
happy gardening, sass....hoping you have an abundance!
xoxo

Anonymous said...

Planting seeds. Isn't this what parents - all parents - do? xoxo

Vonda said...

I love barnyard smells, but I didn't know I had a great niece that did too!! Those are mighty fine borders. Why haven't I thought of that?? It would be sooo much easier to put the garden in boxes.

Simplicity Wins said...

Hi Jesse,
i am so excited for you and your new garden. Sorry I never got around to helping you. Your dads raised beds are beautiful...does he want to go into business? I hope you get tons of yummy goodness from your new garden. Enjoy....

daisies said...

yay you!! i am in the process of digging up the last of my garden's harvest and turning it over so it can sleep underneath the frost that has already graced her leaves and the snow that will fall soon enough covering her in sleep. so can i say how jealous i am ;-) because i won't be planting again until may ... enjoy ~ i so love gardening :) xo