Advent meditation: Love
After retiring to its new underground home, the seed adjusts to life in the Darkness. It takes some time, but after a while, it resigns …
gardening
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. …
recipes: grits ‘n greens
My oh my, how do I love grits. My dad got us started early on this Southern staple by making us cheese grits on cold …
lessons learned: root bound
When the world seems to bind us in ways that restrict, impede or obstruct our freedom and growth, I return to these words from six …
lessons learned: be love
On Friday, we promised the younger gardener-in-residence that we would take a trip up to Graveyard Fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway and pick blueberries. …
nourish then flourish
I have recently joined a collective of artists, writers, and practitioners who trust in the therapeutic aspect of nature and creation. Each in our own …
the columbine
This spring, the pandemic has slowed our go-go-go family down tremendously. Rather than running to various activities every afternoon, we’ve found ourselves focused on our …
ecospiritua-what?
Blog post about ecospirituality and some practices that support caring for the earth and your soul.
coming out of the dark
Most days, if you take the time to just be, creation reminds us of the simple truths in life–love, hope, forgiveness, etc. This morning, I …
dirty knees? yes, please!
I posted this one last Easter and pulled it out today as a reminder of why it is necessary to my spirit and wellbeing to …
lessons learned: hydrangeas and healing
We human beings are like plants. We need to be cared for in order to grow and thrive. It’s not always a perfect formula. In …
my therapy garden
With May being Mental Health Awareness month, I thought I would write a series of blog posts focusing the spirit, mental health, and creation care. …
lessons learned: thinning
Spring has been dragging her feet this year, but she has finally made it to our little farm. Seeds that were started in the cold …
lessons learned: the apricot tree
The season of my separation from my ex-husband, the movie Under the Tuscan Sun had just been released on DVD. I acquired a copy and probably …
lessons learned: paperwhites and epiphany
Today is Epiphany in the Christian church calendar. It marks the journey of the Magi to the Christ child and celebrates God being revealed to …
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 …
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 …
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 …
lessons learned: hydrangeas and healing
Last night as I transplanted a hydrangea my mom gave me for Easter, this meditation came back to my heart. Thought I would repost it this …
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 …
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 …
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 …
lessons learned: crabgrass and intolerance
Upon arriving home from my residency, I marveled at the wonders the gardens had produced–tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, squash, flowers, and on and on. It was …
pruning
You can sit with her the child of your innermost being You can hold her hand and assure her that life is a journey that …
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 …
just be, creation care, and Earth Day
It has been awhile since I’ve written, and I have been wondering why that is so. I love to write, as it has always steadied …
sitting with the crocuses
You expect Her to come quickly when you feel the first warm light bask on your skin, or when the first choir of purple crocuses …
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 …
homesteading: freezing herbs for the taste of summer all year round
Every autumn, I make a lot of pesto with my sweet basil and put it up to freeze. This year, I’ll be freezing fresh basils, …
rainy days got you down? ideas for gardeners on a rainy day
God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done. ~Author Unknown It’s a cool, rainy day here–the kind of weather that makes me …
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 …
tomatoes: dehydrating or drying for summer year ’round
There is nothing I like more than throwing a handful of sundried tomatoes into a dish to add a bit of tangy punch and a …
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 …
prayer of the heart
The prayer of the heart is the source of all good, refreshing the soul as if it were a garden. ~St. Gregory of Sinai (d.1360), …
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 …
recipes: spring green salad
With all the new extra sunlight on the farm, my spring gardens have produced more than enough greens to feed our family, our chickens, and …
lessons learned: preparing the space
Yesterday at the grocery store, I was having a bit of trouble trying to talk with the person checking me out. “Oh,” she noted, “as …
the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out–cultivating compost
Now that we’re revamping the gardens around here, I have been working on some new composting holding areas. Sundays are usually compost turning day so …
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 …
rainy days and rain barrels
While I’m not so happy about starting my weekend in rain after a beautifully sunny week, I’m grateful for the water to nurture our Spring …