Relatively weed-free. That’s what I thought until I generated a huge pile of weeds in my garden. What a thrill to be outside today – soaking up the warm air – working in my garden. I even harvested some dinner as I cleaned up the last of my winter garden. Potatoes, lettuce, and onions…those fresh potatoes are cooking as I write.
One Last Harvest From My Winter Garden
Couldn’t resist grabbing a minute to lay down on the earth and watch the white puffy clouds traveling the blue sky. Robins hopped in the grass, safely distant and waiting for my departure to explore the potential for worms in the newly-bare dirt. A soft grey bird boldly flew down and started pecking. I become a statue. She adventured toward me checking for tidbits, an immature mocking bird.
Awed by the magic of the day, the bird & insect song, the bumblebee hedging along the honeysuckle-covered fence, the horsetail equisetum that rooted in my vase, the dogwood flowers I picked in my yard, and the optimism of planting a spring garden – I am mystified by bombs in Boston and how we have come to this. I want to know the recipe for healing our country and whatever seems to have gone so wrong with our world.
I feel lucky for my own fearless childhood where bad things (except me getting in trouble) were not on my radar screen. I can’t help but wonder if the people who do these crazy things would be so crazy if they spent more time outside. Without even trying we are surrounded by Beauty. No matter where we live there is always the sky, the sun, the rain, birds flying, plants sprouting in the sidewalk.
I am beginning to think that the human race is the worse invasive species on the planet. Not because of our numbers, but because of our greedy care-less attitudes. We are all so busy. It’s sincerely hard to snatch moments of calm and serenity, to slow things down a notch, and find ourselves blown away by the wonder of creation. I wish I could ensure that kids went outside everyday, or I wish I knew THE answer. I don’t.
But things like local farmer’s markets do weight the game towards personal relationships with our food and the people
Dinner From The Last Winter Harvest
who grow it. Even if we don’t consciously sense this, I think our bodies know the difference and they thrive on food grown with love and care. Let’s get out there and embrace this season of new fruits from our earth. Visit the market. Plant your own garden. Bring magic and wonder to your children any way you can. Celebrate that we are here. Share the love.
Click here for the farmer’s Tailgate Market 2013 schedule.
More thoughts…on hearing this morning’s news…it sounds a bit naïve to suggest that people like this would be transformed by exposure to the outdoors. Its crazy the way we humans are; killing our own on a regular basis. Seems the whole planet needs some serious grounding in the basics of what truly matters during our short lifetimes. All the while though, the Beauty surrounds us with such unimaginable complexity. It’s there, waiting, always ready to show us the way.
And at work today, my boss Wilma Penland wrote this about Earth Day for our eNewsletter – but it fits these thoughts perfectly: “Studies from around the world have shown that when adults interact with nature and plants, they have less stress and depression in their lives and that children are less hyperactive and more creative. Research has also shown there is less crime in cities with parks and nature areas.”
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