Each day, with the heat so early stealing the joy of being in the garden, my mind has turned to plans for the next season. I’m reading and re-reading gardening books like a woman needy and alone might read novels of romance and rescue.
When the rains return, I will plant my garden in a new design; I will plant with the idea of beauty as well as produce; I will try new seed varieties. I daydream.
When the rains return…
And I yearn for the beauty and bounty of the past.
 |
| I would grow squash just for their beauty. |
 |
| An overview of years past |
 |
| Raised bed last year |
 |
| sweet potatoes mingle with the squash and basil goes to seed |
I wondered who and why people in the scripture asked, “How long?” It’s a common question found in 25 books. God asks the question of us, and we ask of Him.
But surprisingly to me, God asks us, “How long?” as often as we ask Him.
How long will you refuse to humble yourself, to believe in Me in spite of the miracles I perform, to keep My commands? How long will you treat Me with contempt, will you waver between two opinions, will you turn My glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
Jesus asks, “Unbelieving generation, how long will I stay with you?”
When Jeremiah asked God how long will the land lie parched, and the grass in every field be withered? …”
God answered, “If you have run with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” Jer. 12:4-6
In other words, “If you can’t trust me now, what are you going to do when things get worse?”
I don’t know if our weather, our economy, or our political chaos will worsen.
What I do know is that I must plant my heart deep in the response, “I trust You beyond my understanding, my Savior, my Redeemer, and my Provider.”
And I return to my books and my daydreams of taking care of my little plot of land better with more beauty and more produce.
One of my favorite books is “The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times by Carol Deppe. She describes every detail of gardening with an obvious love for the earth and the plants and a respect for both nature and the gardener.
She begins by elaborating on our uncertain times, from climate change or economic necessity, to health or time restraints. Then she moves quickly into the 33 Golden Rules of Gardening. These include support, experiment, and notice everything, giving us such inviting detail that every rule becomes a means to a satisfying experience.
The chapter, Labor and Exercise is about designing and organizing our gardening to encourage healthful exercise while at the same time minimizing total work, meaning unnecessary, inefficient, ‘unfun’ work, and the probability of injury.
Soil and Fertility offers not only the usual discussion about using legumes to fix
nitrogen in the soil, but times when that doesn’t make sense. She offers many alternatives and lists ways to avoid wasting fertility. One subtitle is On Not Buying, with help on evaluating exactly what you need.
nitrogen in the soil, but times when that doesn’t make sense. She offers many alternatives and lists ways to avoid wasting fertility. One subtitle is On Not Buying, with help on evaluating exactly what you need.
When reading her descriptions of the right potato or squash or bean, you’re mouth is watering for those tastes. Did you know there are pop-beans not only popcorn?
This book gives beginning gardeners a strong foundation and seasoned gardeners will relish it for all the extras they will glean.
Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener's & Farmer's Guide to Plant Breeding & Seed Saving
is another book I'm anxious to read by Carol Deppe. 
Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener's & Farmer's Guide to Plant Breeding & Seed Saving is another book I'm anxious to read by Carol Deppe. 
Posts
