You know being somewhat food sufficient could not hold a tomato stake to fresh off the vine, or putting the water on to boil before picking the corn. Life does not get better than gathering to prepare and eat garden fresh produce. Money just does not compare to good food and fellowship. Great article.
Thanks, Rob. Your description has my mouth watering. I’ve always told our kids that the ugliest home grown tomato is 10 times better than the most beautiful store bought one.
I, too, am looking forward to planting our small backyard raised garden, being so grateful for the gift of these beautifully diverse little "packets of pure potential," as you call them, Leah. Agreeing that "things are falling apart," gardening is another seemingly small but actually huge way to connect to Earth and what hope we may still have that Life will continue in the frightening future.
So many phrases you used--"dose of possibility," "dreams of goodness in the making," seeds carrying "the essence of the plants they will become," and the process of seeds, as seeds, actually "dying" to become plants that give fruits and produce more seeds--those all left me with the question of, Isn't that what we all, as humans, should be doing now, following their lead to seed the future with an evolved consciousness that will remember that of which we are a part and how we should be living within it? Isn't that where our hope can come from, recognizing that we, too, are "doses of possibility," that we can become "goodness in the making" by remembering our true essences? So that, with our dying, we can know within ourselves that we have "planted" something that will keep Life going?
Thank you, Leah, for a lovely reflection that contains such delicious literal and spiritual meanings. And may we all experience the wonder of those first little plant heads peaking up out of the soil!
Carrie, I can only add "Amen!" Indeed, seeds are an inspiration and a teacher - as is all the living world - for how we live fully alive, deeply connected, and leaving something lively for the next generation. I love your comment "So that, with our dying, we can know within ourselves that we have "planted" something that will keep Life going?" Ahhh. If we can just keep remembering and claiming who we are - that is a bold, vibrant, life-giving action. Thank you for your remarks. I am so grateful to have you as a conversation partner.
Leah, so much in this message took me home. First of all, I was born in Decorah, Iowa, the home of the seed company you reference. My grandparents in nearby Ossian had extensive gardens and I too remember shelling peas, and shucking corn. We had moved from Iowa to Illinois when I was small and when my father's union at the company at which he worked went on strike, my mom helped supplement income, by addressing envelopes for the Burpee Seed Catalog. Thank you for these memories.
Oh, goodness, Sue. What a great story. I'm imagining your mother addressing those envelopes that came to our house. :-) And isn't it amazing what powerful memories food from the garden evokes? It's truly a taste of home.
Thanks for letting us all know where the Seed Savers Exchange is. We're in the La Crosse area and once lived in Decorah ourselves for a short time, so when Leah mentioned Winneshiek County, I was excited to find out where it is. Wonderful to have it nearby!
Thanks for this lovely article, Leah. Now I want to get my garden planted!
Me too!
You know being somewhat food sufficient could not hold a tomato stake to fresh off the vine, or putting the water on to boil before picking the corn. Life does not get better than gathering to prepare and eat garden fresh produce. Money just does not compare to good food and fellowship. Great article.
Thanks, Rob. Your description has my mouth watering. I’ve always told our kids that the ugliest home grown tomato is 10 times better than the most beautiful store bought one.
Thank you Leah for seeding my imagination with garden goodness and my hope with future possibilities.
Thank you , Carole.
The perfect example of possibility, thank you!
Thank you.
I, too, am looking forward to planting our small backyard raised garden, being so grateful for the gift of these beautifully diverse little "packets of pure potential," as you call them, Leah. Agreeing that "things are falling apart," gardening is another seemingly small but actually huge way to connect to Earth and what hope we may still have that Life will continue in the frightening future.
So many phrases you used--"dose of possibility," "dreams of goodness in the making," seeds carrying "the essence of the plants they will become," and the process of seeds, as seeds, actually "dying" to become plants that give fruits and produce more seeds--those all left me with the question of, Isn't that what we all, as humans, should be doing now, following their lead to seed the future with an evolved consciousness that will remember that of which we are a part and how we should be living within it? Isn't that where our hope can come from, recognizing that we, too, are "doses of possibility," that we can become "goodness in the making" by remembering our true essences? So that, with our dying, we can know within ourselves that we have "planted" something that will keep Life going?
Thank you, Leah, for a lovely reflection that contains such delicious literal and spiritual meanings. And may we all experience the wonder of those first little plant heads peaking up out of the soil!
Carrie, I can only add "Amen!" Indeed, seeds are an inspiration and a teacher - as is all the living world - for how we live fully alive, deeply connected, and leaving something lively for the next generation. I love your comment "So that, with our dying, we can know within ourselves that we have "planted" something that will keep Life going?" Ahhh. If we can just keep remembering and claiming who we are - that is a bold, vibrant, life-giving action. Thank you for your remarks. I am so grateful to have you as a conversation partner.
As I am of you, Leah. I'm sure all of us who read your weekly posts are enriched by the breadth and depth of your feeling-thoughts.
Leah, so much in this message took me home. First of all, I was born in Decorah, Iowa, the home of the seed company you reference. My grandparents in nearby Ossian had extensive gardens and I too remember shelling peas, and shucking corn. We had moved from Iowa to Illinois when I was small and when my father's union at the company at which he worked went on strike, my mom helped supplement income, by addressing envelopes for the Burpee Seed Catalog. Thank you for these memories.
Oh, goodness, Sue. What a great story. I'm imagining your mother addressing those envelopes that came to our house. :-) And isn't it amazing what powerful memories food from the garden evokes? It's truly a taste of home.
Thanks for letting us all know where the Seed Savers Exchange is. We're in the La Crosse area and once lived in Decorah ourselves for a short time, so when Leah mentioned Winneshiek County, I was excited to find out where it is. Wonderful to have it nearby!
Seeds grown close to home!