Gardening Excitement

There is nothing more satisfying than preparing garden beds and planting seeds and young plants that will yield lots of yummy vegetables. This weekend I planted rhubarb, asparagus, blue lake green beans and sugar snap peas.

I also pulled lots of weeds and cleaned up debris left from my spent broccoli. The green waste can and compost pile are "full".

My garden soil in the raised beds is a beautiful loam, but elsewhere in the garden it is red clay topped by a couple of inches of loam. I am an inexpert composter. It is my hope that this year I will be able to work in lots of rich compost into other beds in my garden.

After weeks of consistent rain we've had a dry spell. Yesterday and today feel like rain, but little precipitation has fallen. I'll have to keep an eye on my seeds and hand water if Mother Nature doesn't take care of it for me. It is fun to have a reason to go out of doors and check in with what is going on in nature.

Since my first Co-Active leadership retreat I've been doing a morning ritual that they taught us. It is based on a Japanese spiritual practice. When I've been able to go outside it deepens the meaning for me. Especially when facing Mother Earth or Father Sky. As a Friend, I make my practice into a prayer to God, creator of heaven and earth. It is good to connect in this way at least once a day.

Also since my last post, Patsy, our beloved cat of 16 years died. She is part of the garden now too. She joined Lewis and the rabbits and ducks. It's important in the circle of life to rejoin the earth. I'd like to be cremated and then have my ashes spread somewhere my loved ones think is appropriate. I'll be gone, so it an important ritual for them. The part I care about is making sure I rejoin the circle of life.