There are very few things in life more magical than a seed! A mystery, a treasure, a fortune, a wish... they are all things and nothing. They are our history, our heritage, our ancestors, our heirlooms, our future, present and our past all in the palm of your hand. There is nothing more mystifying then preparing the earth, placing the seed in the ground, covering it with soil, blessing it with your hands, quenching it with water and offering it to the great sun. Then you wait and watch life unfold before your eyes. For me it is the closest thing to pure joy and enlightenment I have experienced, helping this new green to unfold it's little arms out into the world.
Maybe I'm just on a gardening high. Holy mother! It's been a long haul this week getting these plants in. The Quack grass had taken over! I spent 4 days working these beds, weeding and cursing and fighting back the glorious weeds. At one point I said, "perhaps I should learn to grow and harvest these native beauties. They seem to take to this place." This will be my 4th year with my own garden and I have learned a lot. I swear, there are few people that impress me more than farmers. What incredible work and knowledge it takes to grow food for the people!
Okay, so I have a confession, I don't even really know if anyone will read this, so why not hey? In my frustration with my raised beds and with the weeds and the entire situation being less than ideal, I escaped for a day to go and buy organic matter to aid my soil. Well, I live in Lake City and unfortunately I just went to the big ol' box store of Home Depot in Cadillac to roam around. I was gawking at cultivators and especially looking at this little one I had read about online... when this Home Depot man came up and asked me if he could help me. Well I thought, "I'm going to indulge my curiosity right now and cheer myself up". I asked him if he'd tell me about this little machine. He gave me the scoop and sales pitched the hell out of me. I said "well what if it's not strong enough for what I'm aiming to do?" He said "then you just bring it back", I said, "if I use it I can bring it back?" He says "Yeah, and by then you might even have all of your work done" He winks at me! My mind starts racing... so long story short... I'm borrowing my cultivator from Home Depot. Is that lame? I don't know, maybe, but that's what I did, and man was it helpful.
Every year I take a week off to garden, I've got a round plot with 5 beds. It's a sweet little spot. I think I like sitting out there more than anything else. There are always moments where I'm using every ounce of my weight to yank out one dang weed and I say "is this really worth it?". Every time I harvest fresh food and cook it up for my honey I say, "what in the world could be more worth it?". Every year I'm amazed and thankful that it all works... the whole plant a seed and grow your food magical journey. Every year I am more amazed and in awe of farmers. Thank you Michigan farmers, for making magic happen and taking care of our future!
love,
May
About Me
- May Erlewine
- Born into a family of musicians, May Erlewine has been playing music all her life. She learned to sing and play piano at an early age, and her acoustic guitar is seldom far from her side. Erlewine, who was home schooled, paid her singer-songwriter dues in her late teens with several years of hitchhiking back and forth across the U.S., even riding freight trains, and always writing songs and playing her music. Now with five CD’s to her name, May works a variety of venues coast to coast, focusing on the Midwest and her home state of Michigan. Her inspired songs and powerful clear voice have a sweetness that delights audiences. May is often joined by Michigan singer-songwriter Seth Bernard, whose excellent guitar work and soaring harmonies are seamlessly woven into their song-stories.
Yes, we are reading :)
ReplyDeleteThe girls' Uncle (my brother in law)is a manager at Home Depot, not the one in Lake City, but a Depot Guy all the same and from Texas too --he is just so ready to help and wink us through our troubles. Can't wait to see how it worked, Quack grass is mean stuff, glad you had help ;)
We'll look forward to having the girls circle in your happy garden... see you soon!
My garden seems to be doing well,marigolds in the corners.This year I'm planting more flowers,a nice balance.
ReplyDeleteI just got my little garden in also. It is just that. Little. Growing up, we always had big gardens with the compost pit the size of a grave site along next to it. My dad and I fed it with night crawlers to break the matter down quicker.
ReplyDeleteO the joys of growing up with a Biology teacher as a step-father! ;)
I have two tomato plants, 4 beans and 6 squash plants and two bunches of pink carnations that aren't doing so very well. I guess I better read up on how to nurture the carnations properly.