growing grace farm
gardening + spirituality + homesteading + creation care
Category: farming
Advent meditation: Hope
A self-sowing seed begins in the light. It holds on for as long as it can, but then weather changes, time passes, and nutrients fade. The bit of green it clings to releases the seed to the earth with a gentle reminder, “This is… Continue Reading “Advent meditation: Hope”
a psalm of thanksgiving
from my new book Growing Grace: A Book of Psalms Celebrating Creation Preorder here God of Bounty, We offer thanksgiving to you in this season of harvest. For the food you created, for the rich soil that sheltered the seeds for the morning sun that… Continue Reading “a psalm of thanksgiving”
sermon: Farmer Boy and resting in the spirit
I shared this sermon at our contemplative service a handful of years ago during Mental Health Awareness Month in the UMC (May). In honor of World Mental Health Day (October 10), I’m reposting. ~cameron This week, I’ve been struck by the intermingling of mental… Continue Reading “sermon: Farmer Boy and resting in the spirit”
lessons learned: peaceful goats, peaceful spirit
As many of you know, I raise chickens–only a few at a time–and they have taught me many lessons about friendship, joy, loss and tenderness. I dream, however, of adding goats to our fold one day, and while now is not the time, I… Continue Reading “lessons learned: peaceful goats, peaceful spirit”
wintering
I’ve put the gardens to bed and shored up the chicken coop. I’ve stored the tools and stacked the pots behind the shed. I’ve left the last of the coneflower dead heads reaching toward the sky, in case finch and chickadee grow tired of… Continue Reading “wintering”
well, it’s about time
Several weeks ago, I was sharing a story with a friend, and she noted, “Well, it’s about time!” And in one way, she was right–our culture’s use of that phrase to mean finally accompanied by a tinge of exasperation seemed to fit the situation just… Continue Reading “well, it’s about time”
sanctuary
You are my shelter, O eternal One–my soul’s sanctuary! Psalm 31: 1 (The Voice) This week, I have been on vacation. Having closed out my former job last Friday, I decided to take a week off prior to beginning my new position. I’ve never… Continue Reading “sanctuary”
dirty knees? yes, please
w The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. ~George Bernard Shaw, The Adventures of the Black Girl in Her Search for God, 1932 For the last couple of weeks, I have meditated on Anne Lamott’s reference… Continue Reading “dirty knees? yes, please”
lessons learned: tomato cages and friendship
Last night, I had the honor of presenting to a United Methodist Women’s unit in Spartanburg, SC. In my time there, I was reminded of the value of female friendship. Thank you, ladies, for your hospitality and grace. I’m reposting this one in your… Continue Reading “lessons learned: tomato cages and friendship”
feb 2017, dear cameron. . .
February 2017 Dear Cameron, I know you are busily approaching Spring 2017 with much excitement and anticipation of a full summer garden. You are dreaming of expanding your homestead even bigger, maximizing sun space and growing plants vertically. You are imagining arms full of… Continue Reading “feb 2017, dear cameron. . .”
a story to tell
After I arrived home from work tonight, I journeyed my away around the gardens. It is amazing how an early afternoon shower then warm sun can perk up the plants and stimulate new growth. As I made my away around each bed, I reflected… Continue Reading “a story to tell”
wintering
I’ve put the gardens to bed and shored up the chicken coop. I’ve stored the tools and stacked the pots behind the shed. I’ve left the last of the coneflower dead heads reaching toward the sky, in case finch and chickadee grow tired of… Continue Reading “wintering”
lessons learned: country girls and laying hens
This morning, I trudged out in the dark to the chicken coop. I was up earlier than usual so I could get my daughter to school, and I was not yet coherent. (Believe me, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t… Continue Reading “lessons learned: country girls and laying hens”
St. Catherine of Siena’s Rest in Prayer
The sun hears the fields talking about effort and the sun smiles, and whispers to me, “Why don’t the fields just rest, for I am willing to do everything to help them grow?” Rest my dears, in prayer.
lessons learned: tomato cages and friendship
The past couple of months, I have experienced the unconditional care and support of friends. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you find people who take you as you are. I consider it “grace” when they experience it all, love on you, and accept you… Continue Reading “lessons learned: tomato cages and friendship”
lessons learned: the benefits of a good soaking
It has been dry here the past couple of weeks, and my gardens have begun to suffer a bit. New seed starts wither and sunflowers stalks bow their heads. It is not a pretty sight. In an attempt to rescue my veggie starts, I… Continue Reading “lessons learned: the benefits of a good soaking”
lessons learned: take rest
I wrote this one several years ago, and as I sit here this morning engaged in some time of self care, I thought I would re-read it. The one piece I would lift up from this post is the commitment to being proactive rather… Continue Reading “lessons learned: take rest”
prayer and preparation for Earth Day
i thank You God for most this amazing day:for leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes — e.e. cummings, North America As I have been meditating on… Continue Reading “prayer and preparation for Earth Day”
sugar snap peas: Nature’s candy
This year, I planted my sugar snaps along a privacy fence with some homemade tomato cages I unhooked to create long latices for them to climb. A teen girl and I sowed the seed a few weeks ago, and they’re already several inches high. … Continue Reading “sugar snap peas: Nature’s candy”
gentle gardeners and creation care~a meditation for Earth Day
As Earth Day approaches, I have been revisiting some of my blog posts on creation care. I wrote this one a couple of years ago and thought I’d press it again today. take care~cameron For much of the last century, religious institutions have missed–or… Continue Reading “gentle gardeners and creation care~a meditation for Earth Day”
lessons learned: seed starts and waiting
If you read this blog occasionally, you know that one of my mantras is “just be.” I find in life there are many lessons I learn around this simple but profound phrase, and typically, it is Nature that serves as my best educator. Last… Continue Reading “lessons learned: seed starts and waiting”
holding a little piece of creation in your hands
This weekend, I will begin some indoor starts for spring and summer veggies and herbs. It is quite possibly one of my favorite activities on this little farm, for it is humbling to hold a little piece creation in your hands and nurture the… Continue Reading “holding a little piece of creation in your hands”
this season, let’s thanks-give
Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner If you have been following me for awhile, you know that I am a believer in “just be”–not going… Continue Reading “this season, let’s thanks-give”
growing grace farm’s cinnamon honey applesauce
You know Mother Nature, she is bountiful one season then rests the next. Last year, we had not a one apple on any of the trees on our family property. This year, however, we were able to gather three cloth grocery bags full in… Continue Reading “growing grace farm’s cinnamon honey applesauce”
lessons learned: putting the gardens to bed
Yesterday, my daughter and I updated our kitchen calendar with events for the next couple of months. In the corner, I noted some projects I have planned for us to complete over Labor Day weekend–paint the bathrooms, steam clean the upstairs, and put the… Continue Reading “lessons learned: putting the gardens to bed”
let’s hear it for the girls: raising girls who know how to homestead
In the past two weeks my 15-year-old has made me so proud as a homesteading mama. On a weekend afternoon, she decided she was going to put together our unfinished wood chairs. From there, she sanded them down then picked out the stain she… Continue Reading “let’s hear it for the girls: raising girls who know how to homestead”
tips for your next trip to the farmer’s market
So you’ve found your local market, and you’re ready to head out–what’s next? Give yourself plenty of time! There’s so much to see and explore. The market is not like the grocery store–it’s not about getting in and out with the necessities. Take the… Continue Reading “tips for your next trip to the farmer’s market”
lessons learned: tomato cages and friendship
The past couple of months, I have experienced the unconditional care and support of friends. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you find people who take you as you are. I consider it “grace” when they experience it all, love on you, and accept you… Continue Reading “lessons learned: tomato cages and friendship”
lessons learned: on growth, gardening boots, and grace
As I squatted by the trellis yesterday to plant more sugar snap peas, I looked down at the boots I was wearing. I’ve had them for a couple of years now, so they are not so colorful anymore, but I fondly remembered that I’d… Continue Reading “lessons learned: on growth, gardening boots, and grace”
Easter and new life on the farm
Today, I am spending some time outside in the gardens reflecting on Easter, new life and creation. January seed starts are ready to be transplanted. The chickadees have blessed us with five eggs. And Saturday’s rain cleared up so that we awoke to sunshine.… Continue Reading “Easter and new life on the farm”
recipe: growing grace farm’s kale chips
I love to hear my child exclaim “Yay!” when I announce I am making kale chips. As thin and crispy as regular chips, we love to make these in the summer time. Different kale will offer you different texture–needless to say, the thinner the… Continue Reading “recipe: growing grace farm’s kale chips”
babying the berries–tips for springtime care
Two years ago, my out-of-control wineberry bushes began bullying my blueberry plants. In an effort to call them off, I trimmed and tugged until the unruly characters ended up on their side of the garden patch. A couple of months later, the birds and… Continue Reading “babying the berries–tips for springtime care”
10 ways to turn off the technology and turn on nature
With the advent of Spring, I thought this one might be appropriate to repost. Happy Saturday~cameron So last night, our Just Be women’s group met at the community garden at church for a night of prayer, fellowship, and laughter. We started this garden a… Continue Reading “10 ways to turn off the technology and turn on nature”