Thursday, June 2, 2011

Now, if only I could get ride of the MOLE!

In January I was really impressed upon in my heart to have a garden this year. I just knew I needed one, it would be a learning experience and would be a get me out of my comfort zone project (my family knows I kill the house plants just by looking at them).

I bought seeds and little seed houses, joyfully planted them... kept buying seed... I might have an addiction to seeds now.

I was so sad when 4 weeks later only a few had sprouted.... Mind you our last frost was not until the end of April... there was no way they could have gone out anyway.

I took classes, read online and thought I had it figured out....

We gleefully lugged bags of organic soil, topsoil, manure - both cow and mushroom all around into planters. We used planters since we where not sure if we would live in our current house or be moving... this alone caused me great stress and delays... some how I thought gardens would relax me... Sid built me a planter - it's my favorite.

I loaded up each of the planters and watered daily. Talked to the plants, checked that everything was bug free (I think I bought some cucumbers that had already been gotten). Everything was growing... but slowly... not really taking off. Sunday while at church, I heard that you can't plant peppers with tomatoes - they are not companions, even though they are both night shades ... Well, I wondered about this- Sid and I had just taken a class on herbs and what to plant with what... I didn't know that plants thrive when planted with their companions... So once I got home I spent hours researching companion planting. OH, my gosh.

You can't plant hot peppers with sweet peppers, don't plant sweet potatoes by squash, and don’t plant cucumbers by tomatoes, but you can plant sweet peppers by tomatoes... It was all so confusing.

Tuesday I went out and bought another container- a kiddie pool... Yes, I realize that I have 2 acres that I can plant but I am not ready for that!!! Thank Jesus for Gardens of Babylon and Erin, who will be helping us plot and plan.... this summer and for the next few years! And quite a few more herbs, and a few more plants... (It’s an addiction I tell you).

Quickly- ha ha I unloaded the 12 - 25 pound bags of soil I would need... It's was only 96 out... got them into the pool, cried a little because it was so hot, and started transplanting so many plants... It was so scary! As I carried each plant over, I told it, I am sorry I planted you in the wrong spot but I am sure you will love your new home. Finally got everything in, while Sid chopped down a tree. Watered and said a prayer. Woke-up yesterday and ran out to water... everything was looking a little sad. I told them, it was OK they would be happy. And that the trauma of the last 24 hours would be over soon. Last night same thing... except I planted a few more seeds. This morning I go out and everything is so happy!!! Everyone was standing straight, bearing flowers, tomatoes where turning red. It was a lovely sight!

And I realized that this is exactly like life. If we are not surrounded by our "companions” those people that add to our life, add to our growth. We will be stunted, we will not meet our full potential, or bear the fruit we are capable of bearing. I don't want to live like that. So while maybe I have to move away from those that are in the same " group" as me, I will be better, stronger, and more likely to reach my calling when I am planted with my companions. We will grow and help each other be our very best.

- Thanks garden for this great lesson. And thank you to all of my companions, that help me grow!