What's Going on in the Patio Garden? (End of April Update)

Yes...right in the middle of that photo is the very faint beginnings of a tomato blossom...a.k.a the bud. This is a Tigerella heirloom that I started from seed in mid-February and by early April was begging to be transplanted into a pot...a.k.a. a five-gallon bucket.

I will attempt to update periodically, but am getting very busy with lots of various things...all of which are good (gardening with friends and at our place; graduation for our oldest; getting her ready for Mission Year; etc.) so I haven't been writing as much lately. I hope to get back to the writing very soon. For now, here's an update of what I have growing on our patio garden.

Along with the six potted tomatoes, there are marigolds and the recent addition of my vertical herb garden. 

The now-opened greenhouses are home to a few herbs, green onions, radishes, carrots, spinach and several greens.

I have broccoli, cauliflower and kale that were probably started too late, given that we're slated to be in the 80's late next week. Peas will soon be growing up the now useless satellite tri-pod, that I keep solely for its trellising capabilities. There is an amaryllis in the bottom right that I purchased half-price just before Christmas. Usually these are bought during the holidays, bloom and are tossed out. I found a website that walks you through how to keep them growing, although I'll probably have difficulty forcing it to bloom in December since I don't have a hothouse or cool storage. I almost forgot. There is a hanging basic with the small beginnings of nasturtium too. In the foreground are my five canvas grocery bags with which I am experimenting growing red potatoes. So far, they look pretty good.

It's not enough to feed the whole family or to have an abundance to sell or share...but it's enough to keep me busy, fuel my passion for growing things and supplement our produce bill. And I'm okay with that!

Planting Herbs: The Project of the Day

This was an idea I saw on Pinterest several months ago and it immediately became the one gardening goal I absolutely wanted to accomplish this growing season.

Yes, that is a shoe organizer. And the beautiful thing is...not only is it making excellent use of otherwise unusable vertical space...not only will it hold up to 24 plants (mostly herbs)...not only is it sturdy and in a spot where it will receive mostly cooler, morning sun...it is absolutely adorable too!

Today as I attempted to embroidery the names of my herbs on the pockets while I chatted on the back patio with my friend, Chandra...I even felt a little Austen-esque. Just call me Lizzy! (If you don't understand this reference, see or read Pride and Prejudice) 

Yeah...I know the stitching isn't that good. It has been awhile since I utilized this skill.

It doesn't really matter though. It's still better than the sharpie idea I had first.

So today was busy. Today was creative and along with Bible study, friends and family...today was a day filled with amazing conversations and the astounding Love of a Saviour who loves me!

That's a pretty awesome day!

...And People Are LEARNING Too!

Chandra's microgreens and wheatgrass, one week after planting.

My previous post was entitled, I've Been Teaching Others to Start Gardening. As a sometimes-writer, the phrase didn't flow as well as I wanted it to, but it got the point across.

Or so I thought.

Today, my friend, Chandra's photo posted on my Facebook wall more appropriately describes the joy I feel in teaching others to grow food for themselves. Thus, the reason for the title of today's post. Because it just doesn't matter how often or how diligently I teach...someone has to want to learn it too.

Chandra now knows how to grow her own microgreens and wheatgrass. Both are densely packed with amazing nutrients and are part of the much touted "superfood" group that is all the rage in organic, whole food nutrition circles.

I think she's ready to move on to some bigger plants now. Perhaps a tomato or two.

And speaking of tomatoes...I was thrilled this morning to spend some time with the Flanagans planting red potatoes and tomatoes. Several years ago when we both were facing job losses in our families, we joked (albeit, I had a hint of seriousness) about just buying some land and starting a commune to support ourselves. Gardening together might not exactly be communal living...but for me, sharing the work and harvest of community gardening has all the positives of shared living and none of the not-so-positives.

Once again...God is refining in me this idea that the Vision He has for my life can be lived now. Little did I know that when I said I believed Him, He would give me three places to help garden, eight people that would come to my home to get started, tomato plants and worm bins for close to a dozen families now and people from around the world reading this blog for tips and tidbits of info about healthier, organic gardening.

Oh....there is so much more to be done...so much more.

Amen!

I've Been Teaching Others To Start Gardening

What's that old saying about giving a man a fish vs. teaching him to fish?

I still think it's a great idea to grow and sell microgreens, but it also occurred to me that I could teach others to do it for themselves. And that's exactly what I've done.

In the last two weeks, I've had two separate classes attended by six ladies and children where they've not only started their own microgreens, but they've learned about vermicomposting and the benefits of starting your own compost bin. We also touched on the health benefits of wheatgrass and microgreens. When the average microgreen superfood has up to 40% more nutritional power than the actual vegetable, why wouldn't you find a way to add them to your smoothies or salads? [If you don't know what a microgreen is, think broccoli sprouts instead of broccoli vegetable.]

The cost savings can be huge too. Have you priced alfalfa sprouts lately or ever purchased a shot of wheatgrass juice? They're not exactly cheap. And you can grow them in small containers, reused salad packages or long seedling trays.

For a nominal fee ($5.00 to be exact), I welcomed these people into our home and taught them how to get started for themselves. My first students even got "the tour" and had a lot more opportunity to ask questions than did the second group...but all in good time. I've also had several others stop by and see "the worms" and pick up tomato plants too. To date, 17 tomato plants have gone out to the garden homes of other "farmers" and I'm excited to hear about their results later this summer. I'm also helping out two friends with their gardening endeavours and I've even had an international opportunity arise that although it may be long distance assistance, still helps me live out God's Vision for my life.

I know there are people with whom I'm friends on Facebook that probably are a shade more than sick and tired of all my gardening posts. But last fall when God's Spirit opened my eyes, my heart and my very soul to this explosive reality that the Vision He has for my life can be lived out now...I finally felt like I had permission to become the person that He had always intended I should be. 

Bottom line...He hard-wired me to love growing things...people, ideas and plants...and what I'm learning from all of my crazy gardening photos, Tweets and blog posts is that there is a whole wide world of people out there that are tired of being given their GMO, pesticide-laden "fish" and are ready to learn to throw the hook and line into the water for themselves. (I'm obviously speaking metaphorically since I have absolutely no clue how to fish!)

Imagine that!? A God who programs you with a plan, a passion and a purpose that He can use to bring Him glory...and there are people whom you know or will soon come to know that actually want to utilize the gifts and passions you have!?

Pretty amazing. Isn't it?

The Book Thief: A Movie Review (Book Review too!)

A few years ago, my husband highly recommended that I read this book. I did. To say it wasn't my favorite would be an understatement. I mean, it was good...and I did greatly enjoy reading about World War II from a German citizen's perspective...but I have read so many accounts of this, one of my favorite historical time periods, that it simply didn't stand out as the phenomenal book it was reviewed to be.

I was intrigued though when I learned that a movie was being made. Somehow I thought the book could translate visually for me much better. The whole Death-as-a-narrator-thing was unsettling to me in the book, but I have to admit, it worked well in the movie. He was much more subdued and it was easier to understand precisely when He was speaking. That was the greatest hindrance to me in the book...the flip-flopping of Death's narration versus dialogue...was a bit confusing for my limited intellect.

Thrown in to the movie mix one of my favorite actors, Geoffrey Rush...combined with solid performances from Emily Watson and Sophie Nelisse...and I have to admit, I'm glad I held out hope for the movie.

Every once in a very great while, there is a film that supersedes the original written work. For me, The Book Thief, is one of those rare occasions. It is currently available from Amazon for digital download or, like us, you can rent it from Redbox. With a PG-13 rating for mild violence and thematic material, it's also one of the few offerings for a historical drama that you can watch with your children too.

Who Da Thunk It??

Today my husband and I mark 20 years together as a married pair. I remember it was an excessively windy day, but I never dreamed how the winds of change would blow through our lives. About 10 years in, I very seriously asked myself, "If we'd known then, what we would experience along the way...would we have even taken the leap?"

The thing is, I can't imagine anyone else that I know that would have put up with my quirks, my ill-timed silly humor, my temper and all the baggage I unloaded into our home the day we joined up for this Journey. He has patiently waited while God has grown me and I wish I could say my patience has always run as deeply as his.

We've had hurdle after hurdle thrown at us and although I know it pales in comparison to what many have had to endure, it would have been enough to undo many others. In fact, as I've watched some marriages unravel over the years, I have also wondered exactly what has kept us together?

I know we are both too stubborn to ever concede defeat and although it's been tough at times and it's never been "perfect", I think my refusal to "lose" at anything has made me dig in my heels and fight the good fight on more than one occasion. Speaking of fighting...if you're under the deception that a "good couple" never fights...let me be the first to advocate for a good fair fight.

I said "fair".

I have discovered that sometimes to get to the heart of the matter, you just have to scoop through all of the yuck to get that nugget of truth that your marriage really needs to survive. For some reason, fighting (a.k.a. an intense discussion) has been a good tool for us to cut through the yuck much faster. Having a hyper-analytical brain may help, but I will also always presume that God's Holy Spirit will give discernment to anyone who asks. In the midst of the battle, having that discernment reminds you the fight is never about the ____________________. (insert any pet peeve you have with your spouse) No, there is always a deeper issue at hand.

Did I say battle? 

Absolutely!

Because if you think for one minute that you can call yourself a follower of Jesus and that you can be married free of attack and blissfully peaceful all the day long...then, you have already invited the Enemy into your camp.

You see, satan would love nothing more than to tear your family apart and cause a devastating wake to follow you for generations to come. He will do everything he can to rip you apart...and you can even be apart and still under the same roof. And maybe that's one more reason that after 20 years I'm still just as determined to make this thing work:  I don't ever want to hand a victory to my Enemy. I guess it's a good thing God made me as competitive as I am...because I know my number one Adversary is just waiting for us to throw in the towel.

Now, I hope after all of this, you don't read into my life any sense of failure, despondency, doubt or grievance against my spouse. No...I just want to be honest that this Journey has been much harder than I could ever have dreamed. Some of that has been our fault, some has been hurled at us by forces outside ourselves and some of it was the fingerprints on our souls of generations that preceded us who never took the time or the energy to break out of the yuck that had been handed down to them.

I said this morning on Facebook, "What a ride. Good think I picked a guy that loves roller coasters," and that probably sums up this Journey better than anything else. But here's why I'm a little more reflective on this anniversary I think than in years previously: 

With everything that God has been teaching me about Living the Vision...which translates into Kingdom living, now...not later...I have to ask myself a few questions.

• If in God's timing we found each other, and through His mercy and grace He has challenged us to break the cycles of prior generations, and He gave us the dogged determination to not throw in the towel...to what purpose for His glory and Kingdom renewal could He accomplish with a couple that would throw off the fetters of this world and run with reckless abandon toward the Vision He has for them.
• And what would He accomplish in them, and through them, if they really believed that the Vision is now?

So whether we have 2, 20 or even more years left together until He calls us Home, I can't think of a better Partner on this Journey to stubbornly, determinedly, and sometimes foolishly run toward the best our Father has to give us. We may not be perfect...but we are perfectly fitted for the work our Abba has for us!

Amen!

Yet Another Reason Container Gardening Works So Well!

Yes...that is snow...on April 15th, in Kentucky, no less. This is from my back patio door. When it was mid-60s yesterday, and 80 on Sunday, that is far outside as I will probably get today.

But while the greenhouse plants hopefully stay toasty warm...

and the potatoes, beets, celery, sweet peas, chard, broccoli, cauliflower and kale say "Bring it on!"...

the tomatoes that I had to pot, because they were getting just too big to stay in seedling containers...

are sitting in my nice, toasty warm apartment under the grow light for today. Looking at the weather forecast, they won't be staying outside at night for a few days, but tomorrow they should be able to make a reappearance into the sunshine and 50 degree spring.

Just one more reason that I love container gardening:  opportunity for protection from absurd weather patterns!

This Is Why I Garden

After a fabulous, but long day of children's eye appointments, visiting friends, planting radishes, carrots, beets and turnips at a friend's house, feeding the worms and planting more carrots, beets and radishes at home...to be able to pick a fresh salad of homegrown greens, recycled green onions, recycled carrot greens, wheat grass and recycled romaine lettuce was well worth all the effort of growing, tending, water and nurturing plants all winter long. [Wow! That was one massive sentence!]

The only things in the photo above that I did not grow are the unhealthy parts...the croutons and dressing. I don't always have enough greens on hand to make an entire salad, but even being able to add a few to store bought greens, packs an extra punch of organic, non-GMO nutrition that far exceeds any energy I put into the process. Plus, gardening is pretty great therapy too.

So where do you start? Amazingly enough, if you're local to the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area, I'm offering a few classes this spring to help you get started. The first is coming up quickly and will introduce vermicomposting and growing microgreens. In May, I'll be offering a tomato tutorial. You can visit this Facebook link for more details about the first class.

Regardless of how you start or what you grow...just begin...you'll be glad you did.