Garden experience: getting your hands in the dirt...

 I have a cousin who lives in Maine, and often I can hear a phrase resonating from him to me--
"You gotta get your hands in the dirt".
He has been growing things his whole life; most of them are legal too. Anyway I am just getting acquainted with his phrase now. I have recently become a member of the Koinonia Garden, which first attracted my 12-year-old daughter when she passed the sign on the road. "Mom we should go check it out this week what do you think?"
Well all I needed was that invitation from her, and soon my nine-year-old boy chimed in ..."sure I'll do it too mom."
For the last several months we have tried to come each Saturday morning, and I have alternated time there with each of  my children. They have participated in the planting from the very start, helping to prepare the beds, setting up the hydration system, planting the seeds and now getting to harvest the wonderful bounty.
I don't know who has been more excited to see each of the seedlings sprout and grow every week and see the final product of everyone's labor.
For me I have always loved to be outside and working. I recently lost my mom in January, and I have found that being outside in my yard connecting with nature has been the most therapeutic thing I could ever imagine. I have also planted my own garden, of course with much guidance from my noble comrades from the garden who have guided me with their wisdom.
Not to mention I have loved getting to know each and every one of them and working side-by-side with them. For me I have had several moments of Zen just being there-- I even enjoy the sound of the cars passing by and different sounds coming from the garden tools clanking and voices about comments of the new week's activity, feeling welcomed every week by friendly kind faces who want nothing more than to see me happily existing in the garden with my family and to share as much as they can of the harvest already.
So now I know a little bit more at the meaning of getting my hands in the dirt, which too can cleanse the soul.
--A.S.

One year ago, we planted our first seeds

 

 "Be joyful in God, all you lands; sing the glory of his name; sing the glory of his praise.
"Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds! All the earth bows down before you, sings to you, sings out your Name.'" --Ps. 66:1-3

We have much to celebrate this week.  It was just about a year ago that we made our first plantings at Koinonia Garden.  Much has transpired in the past year, and God has blessed us richly in this endeavor. Countless volunteer hours and gifts have already been contributed to Koinonia before we picked our first greens last fall.  It came about by faith, love, and hard work combined.

We are thankful that our garden shed is nearly complete. It looks great!
At this time we have an overabundance of produce including peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and even sweet corn that we didn't have a year ago.  We have so much harvest now and work to do, that we could actually use some help.  So if you've been away or haven't had time to get out to the garden recently, your help would be greatly appreciated.
As you can see from the picture above, we did have some storm damage to the sweet corn this week, that we had to attend to, and we also picked sweet corn from the downed plants that was ready.
We have shared much produce to the pantry at Evergreen and the Benevolence at Christ Church.
This month we will begin planting some crops for the fall season.
We welcome you to join us and look forward to seeing you soon at the garden.
-- D