Lessons in the Dirt

For any of you who, as I see it, are blessed to live in beautiful Northern California, it felt almost criminal to take in the weather experienced this last weekend.  The late February gift was a gentle moment when winter was caught kissing spring, and it drew neighbors and families outdoors to play and explore.  It also moved people, such as myself, to immediately wander around my yard and start digging in the dirt.

I have had the true love of gardening in my heart since I was a child.  I have vivid memories of following my Grandpa around his three Nevada City hillside gardens, as he checked the plants, vegetables, and the tall, border fencing erected to deter the deer.  We would wander each row, me and my younger sister closely on his heels, while he pointed out the fuzzy string beans and the lettuce, swiss chard and carrots.  It was a task that, if I remember, we repeated two or three times a day during our summer stays with my grandparents.  The pay-off of all of this toiling and such was when my grandma would send us out, this time with bowls and bags in hand, to collect something for dinner.  The childhood pleasure of picking our own food, skipping down the path to the back porch and washing our harvest in the outdoor sink, has stayed with me after all these years.

Gardening has been, and continues to be, an important part of my life.  I'm not a master gardener or an expert by any means, but it has become more than a hobby to me in a few inspiring ways.

One was my part in establishing (with the help of many other volunteers) an education program at my daughters' elementary school years ago.  It is titled the "Garden of Learning" program and was built with the idea in mind that lessons learned in the classroom could be illustrated and coupled with lessons outdoors in the garden.  The kids are able to apply their math and science skills through measuring, calculating, building and plant experiments.  Their social studies and history skills come into play with learning about the Native American uses for plants in treatment of disease and health.  Art is also brought into the garden by children encouraged to draw, paint, or write about what they see, hear, and feel while spending time there.  And, at the end of the successful school year, after many days of hard work among students, parents and teacher volunteers, the school holds its own farmers market selling vegetables and plants to help pay for the next year's program.  It was and has been a wonderful tool to teach children and bring the school community together.

Recently, I've heard about another program that is having extraordinary, positive results in South Central Los Angeles.  It is run by Ron Finley, who coins himself as a guerrilla gardener.  He and his team of volunteers plant vegetable gardens on vacant city lots, or in small border areas that would otherwise be considered blight.  The encouraging results of his efforts in addition to beautifying otherwise unseemly neighborhoods, is that these areas and communities now have access to fresh, healthy food, and teach children positive lessons in working together, growing one's own food, and nutrition.  Lifelong lessons that all of us can carry one bushel at a time.

So now, as springtime approaches, and the sun shines a bit longer and life once again blossoms all around us, I encourage you to go dig in the dirt.  Plant something, tend to it, share your experience, and watch it grow.  It's an amazing process that brings nothing but positive change, satisfaction and a whole bunch of wellness.

For more on Ron Finley and his program, you can read more at ronfinley.com

A Kind Word

It has been a difficult few weeks for our family, which is why I've been lagging in publishing any new blog posts.  A worrisome health issue with my Mother-in-law requiring hospitalization and surgery, the sudden sickness and loss of our sweet cocker spaniel, Dusty, of 14 years, and my own bout of a quick virus somewhere in between has been emotionally draining to say the least. Where writing typically serves as an outlet, I found myself tired and sad--not the best voice for an inspiration blog.

But now, with all of the most recent urgencies behind us, and experiencing some moments of calm, I've been asking myself and others about what inspires us and uplifts us when we, the usual optimistic and positive, are not.  It doesn't take much to review the last few weeks to find the simple answer.  It is nothing more than a kind word.

In both the deepest of sorrows or perhaps merely an "off" day, a phone call, a surprise handwritten note discovered in the mailbox or an early morning text with heartfelt emoticons can do wonders for one's spirits.  A hug, dinner with friends, and flowers accompanied by a sweet note delivered on my doorstep  all were reminders about how powerful words can be.  These are the small things that were big things in my life this last month.  Kind words have kept me moving forward, put a smile on my face, and have reminded me that even in the low and hard times in our life, there is so much good that surrounds us each day.  From the lips of a friend, a keyboard to one's computer screen, the pen in one's hand, a kind word can go far in healing one's wounds.  And by sharing with one another, perhaps through a simple blog and kind words, I hope we can help serve to mend and inspire others as well.