Victory Garden

It’s hard to fathom that we have reached four months of social distancing. My family really took “Stay at Home” to heart because we feel it is important to do our part to slow the spread of the virus and stay healthy ourselves. I go grocery shopping once a week and pick up our farmers market haul on the weekends. Socializing with friends and extended family doesn’t exist right now. Of course I miss spending time with loved ones, but it’s for that very reason that we are distant. To help pass the time and learn something practical I took up gardening. From the looks of social media platforms it’s clear many others got the victory garden bug too. During WWI & WWII the government encouraged families to plant a garden to help supplement their rations and boost morale. It’s absolutely rewarding to get our hands in the dirt and cultivate our backyard into a lush space. A much needed sanctuary during these difficult times.

This summer we expanded our container garden to include four raised beds. We are growing an assortment of herbs and veggies; some from seed and others purchased as young plants. So far the garden includes cucumbers, green beans, peppers, tomatoes and zucchini. The pumpkin patch was planted last week and within a few days seedlings are beginning to emerge. Tending to a green space teaches so many important lessons like patience, hope and even disappointment. Good things take time; planting a single seed requires you to have optimism because the results are uncertain. Even with plenty of planning you will deal with failures, but each failure is a lesson learned and the more effort you expend the greater the rewards.

In these chaotic times I often find myself meandering, the plants provide purpose and allow a feeling of accomplishment. The yellow star shaped flowers on the cucumber shine brightly and put a warm smile on my face. Fragrant basil fills the air and I bask in its sweet smell. Pulling weeds becomes tedious albeit necessary so the veggies may thrive. Constant tending has become a daily habit as I check in to review the growth and health of the plants.

Picking the beautiful bounty feels magical, to know simple yet thoughtful actions produced each fruit or vegetable. There is really no better feeling than growing your own food. You might be thinking “I don’t have that much space to plant a garden”. Our home doesn’t have a huge yard, in fact, we live in a multi-level townhome, but we make it work. Use what you have and watch the space flourish. What starts as a journey to plant hope, turns into something much more promising, all from one little seed.

Do you have a garden? What are you harvesting currently? Thanks for stopping by. Be well. xo