This last weekend we were finally able to sink our hands into the soil and begin planting our 2015 garden. Again, I have high hopes for a bountiful harvest, and we are praying for good weather and no pesky bugs. We have had late freezes around here, as well as surprise rain, so getting the garden tilled and the beds prepped has taken longer than usual. But the time had arrived, and we were excited.
We spent the day Saturday working together, the four of us as a team. Family. It was mostly glorious, with the occasional whining because the work was 'hard'. We filled in some raised beds that we are experimenting with this year. I am hoping that by using the raised beds, I will not have to combat the weeds quite so much. The crazy Johnson Grass nearly took over last year! I will keep you posted.
So far we have planted 9 tomato plants, cucumber, jalapeno, bell pepper, eggplant, zucchini squash, watermelon, yellow squash, several long rows of onions, and lots of beets. We will also be adding okra, as well as a big bed of Sunflowers, jelly melons, green beans, and a few other delicious treats. This year we are also including lots of flowers, such as marigolds (to help with pest patrol), daisies, lavender, and others. I am hoping to have fresh cut flowers in my home this summer!
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| Jalapenos and Bell Pepper Plants |
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| Tomato Plants - Several Varieties |
It is always so rewarding to work hard together, and then be able to reap the blessings of our work. The food we grow will benefit our family in several ways, not only nutritionally and financially, but also our work ethic and our unity as a family. We try to make it as fun as possible, but it is definitely still WORK!
On this Monday morning after a Saturday of hard work, our bodies are reminding us of just how little we have done throughout the cold winter. The aches and pains of our labor are begging us for rest, but we forge ahead, completing homeschool tasks and household chores, and hoping for some sunshine so we can tend to our garden some more. There is still much to be done, and we have more things to plant, more hay to toss, more soil to work, more weeds to pull. And it is good.
Throughout the weekend I was able to spend time thinking about all of the lessons to be learned in this garden of mine. The ways God uses our everyday tasks to teach us, grow us, build us, strengthen us. The way He prunes us, and helps us to pluck the 'weeds' out of our lives. The reminder that I need to be sure I am always tending my heart, because left untended, the weeds of sin, anger, bitterness, and discontentment will take over in the blink of an eye, just like the weeds in my garden will do if I don't stay on top of them. Yes, so many life lessons to be had in the garden...good for the body and good for the soul.
How is your garden? Are you tending it well or are the weeds creeping in? I'm praying for lots of healthy growth this season!
