Gardening.......

So proud

 So, we have been wanting to garden for a couple years.  In Philly we filled dirt in a planter box and then decided to put our house on the market a couple weeks later, so that was a bust.  Then in El Dorado Hills we were renting and that pretty much kept us from not gardening.  Now, we are still renting, but we really wanted to garden.  Then we kept saying we can't garden because the deer will eat it all and we didn't want to invest in a fence.  So, we kept talking about it and then one day Mike decided to just get some seeds and dirt and he started gardening!  He found an "easy" fence to set up around the garden to keep out the deer.  I am so glad, when Mike gets behind an idea he goes full force.  He has become Mr. Gardener, and oh how the kids love it. 

the meager beginnings

In El Dorado Hills Ethan would ask for an apple tree.  He would go and plant his seeds, from an apple he ate, in the dirt in the backyard.  He would always come and keep me posted on whether it was growing.  I always encouraged him, but knew of course nothing was going to grow.  I felt bad, but didn't have the energy to try and make a garden then.  Well, I still don't have the energy to take care of a garden and wrap my head around it all, so I am so happy that Mike is developing a new hobby, and I can help out whenever I can. 

Ethan showing me his potted seeds.

There is something so wonderful about being being connected to our earth, and truly understanding and seeing how this beautiful earth creates food to sustain us.  It truly is a remarkable process when you stop and think about it.  Something I take for granted every week when I go grocery shopping.  I NEVER think about where the food is coming from while shopping.  I am thinking what do I need, how quickly can I get it and get out, and move on to the next thing I need to do that day.   Don't get me wrong I am thankful for so many conveniences that we have with this modern life, but it is good for me to stop and look in awe at how a little tiny seed planted in soil over time will develop into a life sustaining food source.  I am so happy my children get to experience this too.

All the potted seeds

My grandpa Suzuki is 92 years old.  I was visiting him one spring when he was 87 years old and he would go out and work in his garden.  It was a beautiful garden with a variety of plants.  I love this about my grandpa.  I was so impressed that despite his older age he still kept up his garden.  I have always felt that I have a rich heritage of gardeners, but I myself have never had the know how or passion to take the time to learn.  Just taking the time to write and think about it makes me realize the strong connections it creates.  I feel that gardening not only connects me more to mother earth, but it also connects me to my children, husband, and my wonderful grandparents.  My other grandparents had a lemon tree in their backyard and we loved picking the lemons off the tree every time we went to visit.  One of my favorite memories, and the lemons seemed to be connected to so many memories I have of my grandparents.  Interesting,  I have never really thought about it before.

So, I think I will stop cleaning the house, or making dinner, or doing laundry, or the other 100 things I need to get done while the family is out gardening, and I will join them in their gardening efforts. 

Naomi loving being in the swing while everyone is gardening.