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!

 

Sustainable Style: Finding Winter Trends in Your Quarantine Closet

   

 With stay-at-home orders in place and nowhere to really go, the opportunities to dress in real clothes are currently few and far between. It is less likely for me to wear a suit to work these days; I choose not to work from home, yet I am alone in my office all day and colleagues are seldom seen. I have been opting for more comfortable silhouettes because, frankly, I am not in the mindset for heels and highly structured clothing. I have, however, been following fashion trends closely, if only out of mere curiosity: What are people wearing these days? 

     One thing I have observed, fashion is all about comfort right now, and even though the optimism for 2021 suggests that we will all be going out and about again like we used to, the styles for winter still call for feeling relaxed and surrounded in warmth and coziness, with everything chunky, puffy, knit, bulky and substantial. These are elements that create a sense of security. We feel safe when we are wrapped in thick sweaters and scarves, our feet surrounded by stompers or soles inches away from the ground. Styles are carrying us from virtual meetings on the sofa to the supermarket and back home to the sofa again, swaddled in softness that soothes our souls from the uncertain and turbulent world outside of our doorsteps. We can't always carry a teddy bear, but we can certainly feel the snuggle whilst being dressed like one. 

     Since the only place I have ventured lately is my own neighborhood,  I didn't have to look far for inspiration. Right in my own closet, I found quite a few pieces to compile a number of looks that currently speak to staying home and staying safe, only making a few purchases to fill in the gaps in my capsule wardrobe. Because who has truly worn any outfits you purchased this time last year? Not me. So, what resulted from a shopping spree within my own closet? A fun and practical winter look book of outfits that have kept me feeling like I am wrapped in a warm hug this season. Because that is what we all want and miss right about now. 

1. Sweater Dresses

     I had quite a few sweater dresses in my wardrobe  a couple of years ago, but I felt like they were falling out of style and I gave most of them away. Now I wish I hadn't (and I have learned a valuable lesson) because sweater dresses are now in style again! This one is a vintage piece given to me by my mother in law, in a beautiful aqua color. This is actually a three piece whose separates can also be worn with other items. I like wearing the cardigan with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, or the skirt with a striped shirt and a leather jacket. Here, I paired the pieces with tights and Chelsea boots, and added a puffy vest to unify the look. 

2. Dare-to-Wear White and Classic Sneakers

 

  Wearing white in winter was once considered taboo. I am sure people had their notions they thought were reasonable, such as white reflects heat, and you would be cold wearing white as opposed to darker colors that attract more heat. For me, however, there is no better time to wear white for its bright, cheery crispness and its ability to complement other colors. From the most vivid white to creamier hues, this neutral can rock in pants, sweaters and coats. I like going monochromatic with a classic sneaker and a pair of white jeans. Sneakers that were a hit circa the 1990s have made a comeback, with many of the new styles now sporting a platform sole. A dark, Aran knit sweater adds a hip contrast when framed with a classic camel wool coat. 

3. Duvet Coats

    Another trend inspired by wanting that snuggly blanket feeling to follow you throughout your day is also a resurgent style: Duvet coats, named after our puffy, quilted bedspreads that we wish we could appear in during a Zoom meeting. Since that is far from acceptable, a nice, quilted coat or jacket is the next best thing. I already have a quilted jacket from years ago, and another puffy jacket I recently purchased to add a pop of color to my neutral basics. 

3. Scarves are sooo IN!...

     ...The bigger the better this season, with soft, cashmere-like knits that are affordable, yet luxurious. I love infinity scarves and very long scarves that you can bulk up and wrap around your neck at least 3 times, making for deep, warmth and coziness when I do manage to venture out safely to the market or my favorite taco truck. Longer scarves like this 3 yard piece from Bleu Salt can be worn as a scarf, a wrap, or even as a throw for nights watching Netflix on the sofa. Speaking of which, I am loving "Bridgerton". If you have not yet seen it, be sure to catch it! 

4.  Coordinated Knits

     Sweater pants were in twenty years ago, and I have had these grey cashmere slacks since then. They get put away and then taken out as pajamas or comfortable work pants that I dress up with a jacket or a longer sweater. Here, they are once again, matched with a mock neck sweater of the same color and coordinated with a colorful hat and ankle boots, perfect for masking up and running a quick errand to the car wash or doctor's appointment, then back home again to slippers and a cup of tea.

5. Sweater Vests 

     True story:  I was once mocked for wearing a sweater vest to work by a colleague, implicated as being a nerd. Of course, I ignored it, considering myself never a slave to fashion trends and also an adult who can make her own damn decisions about what to wear. I took the slight as a compliment and a cue to wear them more often. Now, sweater vests are in vogue, once again, showing up on runways and in fashion blogs this season as a go-to winter essential and provide a soft, yet professional silhouette for virtual meetings.  

     Pair a vest with a collared shirt, billowy blouse or even a maxi dress and Chelsea boots. There is no right or wrong way to wear them, and as a classic piece, sweater vests will never go out of style. 

     I guess my colleague did not know that nerds really do rule the world. And most of them look good doing it. 

     

     My mother always told me to keep care of my clothes so that they would last a long time.  Little did I know just how important that advice would be. As we all begin to return to a new type of normal as spring returns, it is good to know that we have come to realize what we have is already enough. A new attitude of minimalism has arisen, liberating us from the "more is more" mentality that all too often becomes the source of stress and anxiety. While shopping IS fun ( I do miss it!), scouting for things I already owned helped me to sort out excess and express gratitude for what I have: Clothes, food, a home filled with people I love, clean water and electricity, and a steady job; a rarity in this time of uncertainty and difficulty for so many others. This period in our history - this great pause - has allowed most of us to slow down and take stock of the most important things in life. Like these simple surprises I found in my wardrobe, I hope to carry this idea with me into this new year of hope and guarded optimism for what is ahead. 

What are some winter fashion trends you've grown to love this season? Have you incorporated any current pieces in your wardrobe when creating new looks? Leave your comments below!