Handz in Dirt Chronicles: Musings of a Suburban Gardener || March 2022

 I have been avidly gardening for four years now...

...and keeping a journal about everything that grows, develops and dies in my garden. As the garden moves and transforms, so does life, and the ebbs and flows of time have become intricately blended in all that is sown and gathered in the soil. 

There was definitely the COVD-19 experience, along with social unrest, political upheaval and now a world in which democracy is once again in danger. But the garden remains constant; delivering lessons of hope, change and optimism. The magical and spiritual intertwine among the beauty and mystery of this heavenly place where flowers bloom and things, once thought lost to death, suddenly reappear with strength and brilliance. All beauty lives in the garden. 

It is Spring as I begin this entry. Spring is 4 days old in 2022, and my garden has grown from two small raised beds and few pots to a sprawling plot that now covers the entire south side of the backyard, with spots of raised beds in various areas near the patio and terrace (terrace-to-be). The grandest feature is now the greenhouse, where my son and I enjoy starting seedlings and plants and an occasional cup of tea. In the winter, it is a cozy refuge from the craziness in the world, a place to sit among the greenery, keep warm and listen to music flowing from our bluetooth speaker, sometimes well into the night. In summer once all of the seedlings are planted, the shade cloth, fan and cold mist keeps us cool as we sip rosè or lemonade to beat the heat.

March 23, 2022

We are ready to introduce our tomato seedlings into the newly turned raised beds. Because the soil had been so depleted from previous crops, these beds had to be completely pulled of old plants, the dirt sterilized with hot water, and new, fertile soil added. Vermicomposting is also a handy method for creating your own nutrient-rich soil by providing worms in a controlled location a variety of appropriate kitchen scraps and biodegradable materials. I have grown many of my worms this way; their casings are filled with plenty of nitrogen, making excellent food for plants. For the first time, I am using a worm composter to create worm tea. 

My husband built extensions to place on top of the short beds to make them taller; this way, the new seedlings will have more room to grow downward, making the root systems stronger and the tomato vines more able to climb and produce more fruit. 

As companions, tomatoes grow well with carrots, and since my bucket of carrots was turning into a crowded mess of twisted roots, I thinned them out, gently pulling them from the ground to transplant them in the new bed next to the tomatoes. I was surprised to find a red one and a few white ones growing. With the newly dug dirt, I hope they can find enough room to grow larger and deeper so that we can have a few delicious heirloom carrots. 

Seed: We all need room to grow, whether it is physical, spiritual or mental. Crowding only stunts development. If you want to root deep where you are planted, you must demand that space in a nurturing environment. It is a birthright. 

March 24, 2022

I told myself I would not spend too much time out in the garden this morning, but it can never be helped. When I returned from getting additional soil, I started on creating space for the pollinators to grow. Although I do enjoy picking up flowers from the store to plant, this time I spread quite a few seeds in the pollinator bed: Wildflowers, sunflowers and zinnias. This way, they can start growing in the ground. The other potted plants on the other side of the garden are beginning to bloom and attract a few friends. Bees love sipping a bit of water from the bee baths set up among the flower containers as they fly from bloom to bloom, and return each day to bury themselves into the sunflowers, purple sage and mint blooms. 

There was also quite a bit of watering to do, since spring temperatures are warmer and the sun now is higher overhead. With all of the colorful beauty and the warm spring weather, moving on to other responsibilities can be hard. I can easily find other ideas and motives that will keep me in the garden all day!

Seed: When something brings you pleasure, it is very hard to stay away. Run toward what brings you joy.

Being in the garden is always the best part of spring for me. Do you have plans to grow things this season? Share some of your ideas!