Gardening

Many, many moons ago, we all came to the conclusion that it was about time we started a garden. August came, and we researched some veggies that had a short yield time and did well in cooler weather, cleared a spot in the backyard, borrowed a tiller, and got to it. Kristen bought some great seed out of Vermont, and by September we had seeds in the ground. Lettuce, spinach, squash, zucchini, beets, and bush beans were on their way. All we had to do then was… wait.

I think one of our first thoughts was, “Why pay for ‘fresh’ vegetables when we could grow our own in the backyard, and pay relatively nothing for seed?” And probably right around the same time came the thought of, “How AWESOME would it be?” Aside from the monetary cost and the obvious cool factor that comes along with being a college kid that gardens, there is great value in using the earth that the Lord made and gave us dominion over to sustain ourselves. He made it so we would use it; and at the same time, we are called to take care of it – a point that we oftentimes forget.

So now we have this really cool, small, organic (duh), first shot at a fall garden and initial move towards becoming a little more self-sustainable, a little more simple, and a little more hard-working. We all take turns watering, weeding, and enjoying. Hopefully soon, we’ll have some really good vegetables to enjoy – minus the spinach and beets (they didn’t make it past the first big rain... and I accidentally picked the only surviving beet. Sorry, Wes.). There is something incredibly satisfying about growing something yourself, for you and some good company to enjoy for a meal later. Atleast, that’s what goal we have in mind. I could write for days about the spirituality connected with gardening, nature, and the earth, but instead I’ll let some scripture do it, and encourage as many people as I can to start their own garden.

For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.

In His hand are the depths of the earth.

The mountain peaks belong to Him; the sea is His –He made it,

and His hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95:3-6