Seed Junkie

I am a seed junkie. I can't help myself. Every time I go to a Walmart, Menard's or Lowes, I end up buying more seeds. I don't need them. I don't have anywhere to put them. But I buy them anyway.

Patience

I am not a patient person. I don't like to wait and I don't like surprises. Well, I do if I'm not anticipating them. I like to be in control. Waiting for the seeds to sprout in my basement has been painful. Every morning and every night I carefully inspect each flat to see if anything new has emerged.

Now that I've direct sowed some seeds into my garden I can't wait to see them pop up in rows. I love how my garden looks from our overpass on the approach to my house. It makes me feel so accomplished. Orderly rows just do something for me.

Even though patience is hard, it is sometimes the best thing for me, exactly what I need in a given situation. It's suppose to snow tonight. Not good for newly emerged seedlings. Tonight, I'm happy everything is still underground and wasn't in a big hurry to come up.

After five months of waiting patiently, I finally reaped the rewards of patience in handling a difficult situation. Even though it killed me not to, I did not rush the process. I did not try to present my case but let things unfold naturally. In their own time. And it worked. God has a plan. I just have to remember that and trust in it.

Little Ms. Fixit

I woke up early this morning and after getting my son on the bus, I got to work. Before 9 a.m. I had replanted two potatoes that a critter dug up, fixed a broken hose and set up sprinklers on some grass I'm trying to get to grow. It was such a peaceful, amazing morning.

It's suppose to be 70 degrees today!

A little bit of everything from my March planting is up! And, last night I planted more:

Watermelon
Honeydew
Cantalope
Squash
Zucchini
Dill
Basil

Even though it refuses to warm up, I know spring is just around the corner. We rototilled the garden on Easter Sunday. Thursday morning I will plant potatoes, lettuce and spinach directly into it. I have more sod to dig in order to expand my garden. My next step is placement so I can get a crop rotation going. There is always so much to do this time of year. I'm off to a great start!

Banished

Sometimes lines need to be drawn for protection. Currants and Gooseberries are banned from some states. Many people in other states don't plant them because they are carriers for a disease that affects White Pines. I planted both without knowing. My currents have since died but my Gooseberry is going strong.

I've been working with my seven year old son on thinking about the risk and rewards of his actions. I planted the Gooseberry bush so I could make Gooseberry jam and so my husband's grandmother could make pies. Is the reward of pies and jam worth the risk of killing the White Pine trees in my neighborhood?

What about people? Is the risk of exposing my kids to unacceptable, disrespectful behavior worth it? Is the risk of being ridiculed worth it? Is the risk of getting fantastically red in the face mad worth it? What's the upside of having that person in your life?

Growing

Plants have it easy. Their future, for the most part, is mapped out. Their purpose is defined. A seed turns into a seedling then a plant. It does it best to reproduce then it dies. Sometimes I wish it were that easy for me.

What is my purpose? What do I want to be?

Professionally, my list keeps growing: a lavender farmer in Provence, a vegetable farmer in Ashton, a corporate trainer, a marketing executive, a nursery owner, a jam maker, a development officer, a farm produce coop farmer, a higher ed administrator.

Personally, I want to be a good wife and a good mom. I want my kids to be independent but have strong roots in my home and in my heart. I want to have a few great friends that I adore rather than many on the periphery of my life. I want treat our earth with respect. I want to be a contributing member of my community, nation and world. At the end of my life, I want God to say, 'You fulfilled the purpose I set for you. Well done.'

I used to think I could do anything I wanted. I'm smart enough. I have the drive. Lately I'm not so sure. Somewhere along the line something changed. I got married. I had kids. I bought a house. I got a dog. My time is not my own. It's not just about me and what I want anymore. Along with responsibility comes the need to prioritize and put others before myself.

My sister believes the purpose of life is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate. Above all to matter, to count, to stand for something. To have your life make some difference.

It's a good reality check to think about who I want to make a difference to and in what order. I'm hoping that will drive my priorities as I plot my course.

Seedling Update

Here's what's up:

Napa Cabbage
Regular Cabbage
Roma Tomatoes
Regular Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
Oregano
Broccoli

Here's what's not:
Little Pumpkins
Hot Peppers
Jalapeno Peppers
Eggplant

As soon as I can get outside, I'll plant the potatoes, lettuce, spinach and radishes. Hopefully the snow will melt and it will warm up soon! I am not a patient person...

Make it stop...

One of my gardening goals for 2009 is to work my vegetable plants into my landscape rather than just my traditional vegetable garden. I'm working on the path and transition from the garage and foundation gardens to my large vegetable garden.


I started with peas. I planted 17 seeds in a circle. As they grow I will tie them together in the center, hopefully adding some visual interest and height. I saw this at a garden shop in Indiana and it looked really neat. It's worth a try. So yesterday I planted two circles in the spaces flanking our LP tank in front of my Korean lilac bushes.

I'm considering taking out the hostas that line the existing path and planting lettuce in its place. I'm just not sure how it will look as I harvest it and the lettuce bolts.

I'm in no rush. As you can see, it's snowing.