growing grace farm
gardening + spirituality + homesteading + creation care
Tag: 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. The bit of green it clings to releases the seed to the earth with a gentle reminder, “This is… Continue Reading “Advent meditation: Hope”
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 mornings then we progressed to a more sophisticated version with shrimp ‘n grits on our visits to the Lowcountry… Continue Reading “Recipes: Grits ‘N Greens”
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 years ago. -cameron “You are root bound,” she said. “Your prayer might be, ‘God, give me a bigger pot.’”… Continue Reading “lessons learned: root bound”
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. Hiking to pick mountain berries is a tradition for many families in our area, and now that the word… Continue Reading “Lessons Learned: Be Love”
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 own homestead. We keep a to-do list of both house and garden projects, but this extra time has afforded… Continue Reading “the columbine”
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 sink my hands into the dirt daily. As for Daisy, she is resting in peace under favorite tree, nourishing… Continue Reading “dirty knees? yes, please!”
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 general though, we need to be watered, fed, and sometimes pruned. And just like plants, without enough nourishment, we… Continue Reading “lessons learned: hydrangeas and healing”
growing grace
Several years ago, someone asked me the meaning of “growing grace.” They assumed that my daughter’s name was Grace and that I had created the gardens to grow her through healthy food sources. When I noted that the Creator was growing grace, or blessings,… Continue Reading “growing grace”
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. Ecotherapy utilizing nature and creation as a way of alleviating emotional and mental health issues Several years ago, I… Continue Reading “my therapy garden”
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 frame have nudged their way through warm dirt and burst forth in verdigris. It soothes my spirit to come… Continue Reading “lessons learned: thinning”
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 wore it out in the first year following this life transition. On so many levels, the film seemed to… Continue Reading “lessons learned: the apricot tree”
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 us as Jesus–coming into the world to experience both darkness and light just as we do and sharing the… Continue Reading “lessons learned: paperwhites and epiphany”
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”
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 morning. ~cameron We human beings are like plants. We need to be cared for in order to grow and… Continue Reading “lessons learned: hydrangeas and healing”
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”
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. . .”
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 like Christmas morning–I walked out the door and gifts abounded in each vegetable patch. And then I sighed. There… Continue Reading “lessons learned: crabgrass and intolerance”
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 there’s room to grow and change and become You can tell her stories and sing her songs and offer… Continue Reading “pruning”
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”
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 me while offering me a source of meditation to discern my thoughts, feelings, etc. Last night, as I finished… Continue Reading “just be, creation care, and Earth Day”
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 peeps their heads through the dead leaves. You wait impatiently for this season of hibernation to fade. You’ve rested… Continue Reading “sitting with the 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 the last of the coneflower dead heads reaching toward the sky, in case finch and chickadee grow tired of… Continue Reading “wintering”
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, oregano, and thyme as well for soups and such in the winter. Before freezing herbs, there’s some prep work… Continue Reading “homesteading: freezing herbs for the taste of summer all year round”
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 want to lie on the couch and doze on and off, dreaming of warm, sunny days and veggies growing… Continue Reading “rainy days got you down? ideas for gardeners on a rainy day”
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”
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), Egypt
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”
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 any rabbit that can jump the fence. I’ve been experimenting a bit with salad ideas and came up with… Continue Reading “recipes: spring green salad”
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 I get older, I have problems multitasking too.” We laughed, and I responded that the more I grew into… Continue Reading “lessons learned: preparing the space”
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 I thought I’d repost this one. ~cameron Sunday around is compost turning day. After a week of tossing stuff… Continue Reading “the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out–cultivating compost”
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”