Lessons from the garden season

Yesterday I spent a good portion of my day tearing down the straw bale garden I was so excited about in the Spring.  It was seriously hard work.  As I worked to pull apart what I (and others) had worked so hard to put together I was solidly convinced that my "big" gardening days are over. I think I really knew this in my heart when I was planning for the garden, but I just refused to listen to the still small voice whispering to me that I wasn't supposed to have a garden this year.  Well, maybe I did need to have it to really know that I am done with it - at least done with the kind of garden we've attempted for years without real success.  You know the type - super abundant with veggies that we eat fresh and then can and store up for the rest of the winter; somehow imagining that we could save money by growing our own... whatever.  Our gardens have never produced what I would call an abundance of anything other than frustration and time consumption - and cost.  I doubt that we've ever saved a penny with our gardens. And I've spent a lot of time planning, preparing and working in them - for a time.  And then about August when our mid-west temperatures and humidity hit their peak I'm done.  Can you say neglect?  I certainly can.  And boy do I.

Tearing it out yesterday knowing it would be the last time I'd be spending time and energy in  this way was really cathartic.  I will continue to grown my true love - herbs - in some capacity, I'm sure.  But in so many ways there is a new season upon us.  I'm looking forward to the new season and am determined to embrace it in every way for every blessing it has to offer and for every opportunity to grow and learn from it's challenges.

And today - I am genuinely thankful that I can simply go to the grocery store and buy food for my family, thankful for the people who grow and harvest and bring that food to us through their hard work.  Thankful to my Father who so gently and lovingly reveals these things to me like a good father teaches his young children.

I am going grocery shopping today.  I'm thinking I may never complain about this task again...

Simply,

     Susan