A few weeks ago I was preparing for an Activity day with "My Little Girls". That is what I call them not mine but I love them dearly. Anyway it was it was a gardening segment and I wanted some words of wisdom from our General Authorities and came upon a wonderful talk from Sister Barbara Winder the General Relief Society President in 1985. She talks about her daughter and son-in-law's gardening efforts.
Anyone who knows me know I am not a true Mormon because I cannot garden I have a black thumb...actually every one of my thumbs, fingers, and toes will kill any green and living thing. My own daughter has often counselled me to "just finally embrace my brown-thumbs" Yet every spring I get the urge to plant and grow veggies and flowers...
But Sister Winder gave me words of glorious hope in her talk.
"the climate and soil conditions were different, but they determined they would follow the prophet’s advice and have a garden. Their first attempts at gardening were pathetic. The weeds grew much better than the vegetables. The gardens were “obedience gardens.” However, with continued effort, each year the gardens improved. They learned new techniques and developed skills... Besides the practical lessons they learned, they found peace and assurance in keeping the commandments. Surely the promise was fulfilled for them: the prophet’s advice had been for their good always."
Through much trial and error each year the gardens got better and better. I can keep on trying and even if I don't ever grow masses of beautiful green beans that I can learn how to can, I know that I am be obedient and TRYING to become more self-reliant. So now you can join me on my journey of obedience! There will be highs and lows and I'm sure many will fall to the scorching summer or relentless wind but with Miracle-Gro vegetable soil...how can I lose???
Here are my seeds harbored safely in water an Easterly windowsill in recycled Sonic Route 44 drink cups. See I can be Earth friendly! These are my green beans. "My Little Girls" planted carrot seeds at the same time.
This is my basket of lettuce mix. We planted this about 3 weeks ago and my sweet husband was so diligent about covering it for me throughout our freak cold snaps that I knew it would pull through, but alas, we had to reseed yesterday. There were quite a few small leaves of green but they disappeared...do possums each lettuce? We have a pet (absolutely not!) possum that was living under our house but has since been kindly evicted, maybe she wanted tender, shoots of French Mesclun more than we did...Notice how there are so many ways to use a pallet going around on the web and what do I do? Use it for a garden, not even a vertical one (sigh) will I ever be creative enough?
Anyway here we are just hoping, and waiting, and praying (you know like the song?) not to kill a whole generation of green beans,salad greens and carrots. Pray for them! (and me)...
