I may not harvest enough vegetables from my garden to save this year, but I am harvesting an education.
Early in the season I purchased plants from a local home and garden center. Over half of the plants died. I thought I was taking care of them, still for some reason they succumbed and I was left thinking I would have no garden this season. Plants were simply too high and at the time of year it was, I feared it too late for planting seeds. I did however, have those seed starters and soil from past attempts stored in the carport so I decided to give it a shot.
I planted cucumber, squash, green beans and tomatoes. Amazingly most of the seeds planted sprouted. I babied and watered them, fed them a couple times and waited, wanting them to be strong enough to transplant. I had so many sprout that I shared some with my nephew. When I thought they were strong enough, I transplanted them into my garden.
Some were, some were not. The tomato plants from seeds and all but one of the cucumber died. I did have a few of the original tomato plants and the bell pepper that survived. I have harvested some from them, I’ll say now the tomatoes have made amazing sandwiches.The cucumber vine has small cucumbers and the squash shows promise as they are filled with blossoms. There is also a plant that I have no idea where it came from that is attempting to take over. Upon asking social media, I was told it is a tamatillo. Apparently this thing is useful and edible. I thought it was a weed. Now I have to educate myself on this new discovery.
Speaking of discovery and education, I’m realizing many things about life after the events over the past couple of weeks.
You do actually reap what you sow. If you plant good things, you will usually harvest good. It does actually depend on where the planting is done and how. The plants I first planted, some of them lacked something that caused their demise. There have been times when I spoke kindly to strangers and on the rare occasion friends, and the words either not accepted or reciprocated. There was something there, that was lacking. Either my words were ill timed, the person I was speaking with was not in the right frame of mind to hear or accept my words, or any other number of reasons that prevented a good return.
Over the course of the past couple of weeks, I did some other planting.
I planted taking chances and came away a bit stronger.
I planted speaking out and came away encouraged.
I planted believing and trusting that I could, and I did. In that I grew.
I planted the desire accomplish something I had dreamed of, and I did accomplish them, marking those boxes with a check mark and a smile.
I planted many things over the course of a week. There were some instances of immediate results, and there have been a continued harvesting of things such as an improved feeling of self worth and ability.
Life itself, is a garden. Stretching out before us in the field, ready and waiting for planting. We can go about sowing the seeds, preparing for good things, and suddenly find that there are things we did not plant appearing. Weeds will show up that will need to be removed. Fear, anxiety, insecurity, anger, frustration, distrust, anything and everything that will prevent life from being the amazing adventure it is meant to be, even with and in spite of the storms that will appear. Storms water us, storms give us strength, storms have purpose.
Every once in a while, something we initially think to be a weed, is in truth not. It is when we educate ourselves that we find the appearance of the unknown and unplanned to in fact be a welcome addition. Something that adds to the garden. Something that adds to life, giving it a different flavor. As long as we take the time to question and educate ourselves.
I’m sitting here, with a deeper and greater understanding. I’m sitting here, knowing that what is harvested from my small vegetable garden will have amazing flavor and add to my summer meals. I’m sitting here realizing that the things I have been and will continue to plant in my life, will add so very much more and for that, I am very grateful.
Words from The Dirt Road 