I have to confess – I knew the garden would be work, but for some reason I didn’t really think it would be that much work. Wow was my ego ever playing tricks on me!!!
This garden has been a challenge. The physical actions of putting boards together, shoveling dirt, painting, planting, and watering were work, but really that was almost the easiest part.
The real work has been in the commitment – the proverbial chase and honeymoon phase was over once plants started to sprout. There were certainly times I thought about just letting everything dry up and blow away.
The relentless wind of May and June, brought so many doubts for the garden’s success. Wondering to myself what the hell I had gotten into, and most days having unrealistic expectations of how fast a plant will grow in less than ideal conditions. Then a little sprout would appear providing hope of great bounty; only to have my horn of plenty vision, quickly destroyed by a moth laying eggs or cats digging up a row of carrots.
Walking away was considered, I could justify quitting. Forget my practice of non attachment, ignore the pleasure daily strolls and weeding provide me, and choose grief over gratitude.
velveteena wakes up
Some carrots survived the cats
This evening I was wandering through the garden thinking about this and that, whistling to the Western Meadow Lark I thought about how fortunate I am to live in my place and time. I picked a few weeds, ate some peas off the vine, and checked on the strawberries it struck me- no single part of the garden was ever the same!! Each square inch unique, brining its own magic to the garden.
I could stand on the south side of a square box and think “I’ve got all the weeds!” Then lift up a plant, walk around a corner, peer down a row for an entirely new perspective. Each angle, every minute something new to see, taste or pick.
The concept of commitment to my garden, the plants and my vision has become very important today. Commitment paired with patience. I’m not sure they can be separated. I don’t know enough about plant biology to explain how they grow and produce food. I just know it’s amazing to watch it in real time.
Another surprise discovery about myself in the garden. Weeding – for me (with the easy access of the raised beds) has become meditative. When I’m in the garden weeding, that’s all I’m doing. It is relaxing and makes me feel productive, like no matter what went on during the day- I’ve accomplished something! A reminder of what I love about the garden that quickly washes away all the complaints. Not unlike human relationships 😉
With renewed commitment to my garden, I now need to do some research on how to get the most from my plants. I realize there is a lot going on in the garden and a lot that I don’t know. Topics to review this week are, when to harvest, fertilizing and in the event my horn of plenty vision becomes tangible, how to cook and preserve.
Today’s Harvest
Standing in the garden this evening, the sun hot, the dry plants making crinkling noises, grasshoppers looking like pea pods it seemed fitting to acknowledge that the growing season was over. Time to practice non attachment and move into the next phase – final harvest and seed collection. 
Road Noises 