Tag Archives: farmer

prayer and preparation for Earth Day

Posted by growing grace farm in creation, creation care, farming, gardening, nature, poetry, prayer, spiritual and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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 Earth Day this week, I have reflect on all that will be celebrated today–green living, sustainability, local farming, a return to simple.  I realize that one highlight of Earth Day is to remind us of practices that can save our dear Mother–some practices that have been created in response to ways that we have abused and neglected her.  So while this day is a day of celebrating, it also saddens me to think of how we lost our way and in turn, poisoned our waters, exhausted our resources, and polluted our air.

But I find hope.

20130223-132044.jpg

I find hope in the family farms, CSAs, and urban farmers who are committed to a simpler and more sustainable way of life.  I find hope in the paradigm shift in big business that promotes greener practices.  I find hope in the public awareness as it grows broader in its understanding of how we can nurture Earth as she was intended to nurture us.

On a very personal level, I find hope right here in my own backyard.  When I step outside to find a snail slithering slowly on my cucumber trellis or a tiny tomato sprout peeking through the dirt, I am filled with wonder.  When I experience the colors of autumn leaves or the blossoming of spring flowers, I am blessed.  This connection with creation fills me not only with a sense of awe but also commits me to a sense of responsibility, for it is I who cares for our Mother  just as the Creator cares for me.

may 1 snail in dirt

On this Earth Day, I encourage you to adopt practices that support sustainability and simple living, but also just get outside.  Get outside and celebrate the very reason for Earth Day–the natural, the infinite, the yes.

tips for your next trip to the farmer’s market

Posted by growing grace farm in community, cooking, farming, gardening, homesteading and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

So you’ve found your local market, and you’re ready to head out–what’s next?

Seattle Farmers’ Market, Spring 2009

  • 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 time to get to know both the food and the folks.
  • Take a bag or two.  They may have some plastic bags from the grocery store or brown paper lunch bags, but it will be much easier if you take a “green” cloth bag that can hold several different items.
  • Take cash and preferably, in small bills, and keep it easily accessible.  It will make for easier shopping.
  • If your market is not covered, prepare for the weather.  Sunscreen and a hat might be in order on those warm summer days.
  • Be aware that farmers have different personalities and salesmanship.  Some will invite you to inspect the food; others will clearly give you the stink eye if you start digging through their peach basket.  Also, I never initiate bargaining with a farmer–I just don’t feel right about taking money out of their pockets.  If they offer to lower the price (like at the end of the day), I’ll graciously accept.
  • And speaking of the end of the day–want to go when there are fewer people and possible deals?  Hit the market at the very end of the day.  Want to  get the freshest choices and have first pick?  Head out in the early morning.
  • Remember that there’s not necessarily a traffic flow at the market like you’d find in a grocery store.  Be respectful of those around you and aware of how people are moving to see the food and make purchases.
  • Appreciate the farmer’s time–he or she may be the only person working the booth or stall which means he or she

    WNC Farmers’ Market from http://www.activerain.com

    will be answering questions, bagging food, making sales, etc.  Asking for special samples or asking a lot of questions may cause the farmer (and those around you) a bit of stress.

And what I consider the most important tip–thank the farmer who has grown this amazing food for you.  These folks are offering you the opportunity not only to live a healthy lifestyle but also connect with the community.   It’s a wonderful outing, and you’ll find it so much more enjoyable than rolling a cart up and down aisles of an indoor store.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to run make my list–Saturday’s just around the corner!

necessities and guilty pleasures for the gardener

Posted by growing grace farm in creation care, farming, gardening, homesteading, nature, whimsy and tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

So we covered this topic for homesteaders (click here for Part 1 and Part 2), and now that I’m spending my free time outside, I thought we’d give the gardeners their due!  Here are a few gifts and gadgets I love to use when gardening.

1.  A good hat–seriously!  There’s nothing worse than sunburned skin.  Personally, I prefer a baseball cap and have 2 that I’ve worn thin bec/ they are too comfy to give up.  Any head piece that covers your face will do.

2. A great pair of gardening gloves–I will admit, I am a glove junkie.  I have a standard pair that will breathe but also protect my hands, but I also have some heavy duty ones dipped in a coating for those berry thorns or splintered logs.

www.pureplaykids.com/ three-piece-garden -and-beach-set/

http://www.pureplaykids.com/ three-piece-garden -and-beach-set/

3.  A child-sized rake–I am all about the rake I bought my daughter when she was 6.  It gets in and around plants and bushes without tearing them up like big rakes do.  Plus, it spreads mulch and dirt with ease.

4. A child-sized metal shovel–again, the size is perfect for bulbs, small plants and little jobs.  Less likely to tear up plants that are close by.

5.  A hoe and garden rake–any tool with prongs on it is a necessity in my shed.  AND, when it falls apart, you can upcycle it to hold smaller tools.

6.  Speaking of smaller tools–I have a great multi-task shovel that my mom found me.  It has a serrated edge on one side, measuring lines on the shovel itself, a weed thingamajig on the end that does wonders with dandelions, and a handle that just won’t quit.  Look for one–it is well worth the money.

7.  A basket or bucket–I use various sizes to collect veggies and fruit, to hold onto pesky weeds and trimmings, to carry water too and from the rain jugs, etc.

you say "yard cart," I say "wheelbarrow"

you say “yard cart,” I say “wheelbarrow”

8.  A sturdy wheelbarrow–when I was growing up, we had a green metal one with three wheels that Dad would rollus around in then take us down to the garden.  Now I have a plastic 4-wheeler one that I can push more easily with my shoulder, but I love it (almost as much as my next item. . .)

9.  A good haulin’ car–I’ve had 4 Subarus and have put them through the paces with mulch runs, bags of dirt, dogs, plants, split logs, and a number of other things.  I had a hardware guy argue with me one time about the number of bags of mulch and dirt my car could hold.  Finally, I just stopped talking and started loading.  He literally stood there with his mouth wide open as I threw in the last of the load.  I smiled, thanked him, then backed out as he stood there like a deer in the headlights.

10.  A comfy pair of overalls and/or shorts–for me, overalls are too hot in summer so I have to go to some cargo shorts.Anything I wear in the yard has to have enough pockets for spare objects, handfuls of birdseed, and my ipod.

11.  A good pair of gardening boots/clogs and outdoor sandals–again, rubber boots are great for messy jobs and cooler weather but send me into some hot flashin’ in the summer.  Love my daughter’s hand me down Merrell sandals.  Oh yeah, many a running shoe from my closet has been upcycled as well.

I am sure I will think of many more so be prepared for a follow up post in the next few days.  I always welcome your feedback so send me your comments, and I’ll check out back and see if it’s in the shed here.  If not, I’ll be off to get one right away!

lessons learned: pullin’ weeds

Posted by growing grace farm in creation, farming, gardening, lessons learned, nature, spiritual and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

I am always amazed how words work their way into my life at just the right time.  I stumbled upon this one by chance and thought I’d repost.

You must weed your mind as you would weed your garden.  ~Terri Guillemet

He who hunts for flowers will finds flowers; and he who loves weeds will find weeds.  ~Henry Ward Beecher

It’s been a week of weed pullin’ around here.  With all of the cool rain followed by warm sun, the plants on the farm have grown higher and faster than their normal pace.dandelion

If I stand on my front porch, I can survey the little space I call my suburban farm.  Closest to the house are the perennial and native plant beds that I have cultivated for the 15 years we’ve lived here.  Beyond that, I can observe the onions and leeks, strawberries and berry bushes.  As the hill slopes towards the woods, the sunniest spot holds the place where tomatoes and peppers and herbs will thrive in hot summer heat.  Rounding out the shadier edges are the pea plants and greens, too delicate for long hours of sun.

From my front porch, all’s right with the world. Venturing to each bed, however, presents a different story.  Looking more closely, I find dandelions bullying the columbine and chickweed muscling in on the kale sprouts.  Everywhere I turn, I find unnecessary plants growing beside, on, and over my summer goodies.  Ugh!  Is an organic farmer’s work ever done?

This week, I had a few weeds of my own pop up in my  spiritual life.  Spiritual weeds, you ask?  Yes!  I define “spiritual weeds” as those words, actions or events that choke us and deprive of us of the nourishment we need for our souls.  Like dandelions or crabgrass, spiritual weeds aren’t necessarily intentional–their seeds just happen to land in our lives then take root and grow.  Then there are the plants that appear when we least expect them–an invader sneaking into our lives when we least expect it and sowing weeds here there and everywhere.

Before we know it, we are surrounded, and maybe even overwhelmed by, negativity, apathy, and bitterness.  We struggle to push past their broad leaves and and invasive roots so that we can return to our spiritual center.

Granted, we will always have weeds in our lives.  It’s part of creation, but this week, mine seemed to take hold and dig in.  So what did I do?  I started pullin’.

Pullin’ weeds requires a bit of intentionality and grace.  To complete the task, you’ve got to have the right tools but also be very careful.  Go in there fast and furious, and you end up sacrificing some of the good plants along the way.  I find that if I step back from the situation, assess the issue, then proceed with caution, I can usually extract the culprit without damaging any of the resources that support my spirit.

It’s better to pull a weed when it’s young rather than letting it mature and hoping it will go away on all its own.  I find that if I manage the situation proactively, then I don’t have to get the situation under control reactively.

Finally, pullin’ weeds doesn’t have to happen if you don’t plant yourself near the weeds in the first place.  As my good friend used to say, “Why go borrowin’ trouble?”  Oh yes, the weeds will always be there, but we don’t necessarily have to sow our spirit among them.

As for me this week, I gave a little yank here and a big tug there.  I gently tended to the things that would help me continue to grow, and I found myself a little more at peace.