Plant Babies

Tonight Carl and I were driving home from the airport when I realized it was getting dark, and cold, and the little box of seeds was at home, on the back porch, alone. They were braving their first little bit of cold and darkness on their own and I felt so worried for their well being. 'We've got to get home quick!' I told Carl, 'Those seeds need us! I've got to get them inside!'

Since we still had a ways to drive, I started to think about my panic for the seeds, and I realized that I need to remember that although I feel very protective and responsible for the tiny plants I am helping give life to, they are plants. And plants are resilient little things. They would probably know just what to do in a little bit of cold. They've weathered the storms since the beginning of this earth, literally. They've never needed me to grow and produce, they do that quite well on their own. Actually, up to this point all I've done is put them in a bit of dirt, water them heartily once and check on them about 20 times a day. Perhaps my pride and obsession with the week old little greenhouse of seeds that are maturing into real plants as we speak is a bit juvenile or silly. But so far, this experience is teaching me not about how much plants need me to be sustained, but rather, how much I need plants, and the beautiful things of the earth to be sustained.

My advice, go out today and plant a little starter box, or a pot, or a put something in the dirt. If you do not have the necessary supplies, come over and I will give you some dirt, a pot and some seeds (I'm serious). I want to garden because I want to know where things come from. I want to connect back to this beautiful earth in some way more than just walking upon it. If you have a moment, come see our little budding plants. The cucumbers are opening their leaves, the lettuce is growing tall, the snow peas and onions and tomatoes are threatening to outgrow their week old home! Better yet, you don't need to see ours, you can have this same thing at your own house. There is so much joy in this simple process. Heather and I consider ourselves the most amateur of gardeners, and things are growing even for us! Now is the perfect time to get your starters going!