Homeschool Diva » Mary, Mary quit contrary how does your garden grow?

Mary, Mary quit contrary how does your garden grow?

June 19th, 2008

Gardens are always in some state of growth, even when dormant, there are vital things happening to promote overall health to the garden. It is true that what you put into a garden, in the way of care, is directly proportional to what you get out of it. There is no “low maintenance” garden. They all need tender loving care. Here are a few fun facts that I found when I was studying about gardens and gardening. (I also read through Genesis 1-6 several times. That however took me another direction that I will post about another time. Read it for yourself and see what comes up for you.)

To have a healthy garden you have to have healthy soil.
You must always prepare and fight against weeds and pests.
Water deeply, regularly and infrequently to promote a strong root system.
Use companion planting to help all plants to thrive together.
A healthy garden produces good things for those around it, clean air, healthy food, visually stimulating.

So the other night, as I was falling asleep, I started seeing all styles and types of gardens run past my minds eye. Each one had someone walking through and working on the garden. It was then that I thought “Gardens are not low maintenance. They take consistent work.” Even when they are dormant, they need some form of care. Lately, I’ve been relearning the idea of baby steps, consistent small things adding up over time make long lasting results. I’ve been thinking about how a garden is a great metaphor for life. Good gardens, beautiful gardens are ones that are well tended. Those are the gardens that people are drawn too, they want to sit down and stay awhile, enjoy the stages of growth contained within.

So what do I need to be tending in my garden? I think it is good practice to always be asking the Father what he is working on in you, so that you can be more aware, working with him instead of against him. For me I am going back to the spiritual disciplines. Disciplines are kind of like tilling the soil of the garden, they don’t really produce anything in the moment of doing them, it is more like they create the environment for good spiritual things to grow. They create space for fruit to naturally occur.

One of the things I will do this summer, is take a day away, by myself with my journal and a calender to map out a “soul care” plan with God. Then I will block things out in the calendar that I must do for my own spiritual development. One of the challenges of homeschooling, is the fact that you don’t really get a break to think about other things. I need to do that for myself. Things that are vital to my spiritual health. I heard Dallas Willard say once, he blocks his calender out for 5 years at a time, otherwise life just happens and you have never put your hand to the task of taking time to ponder. Pondering is good for my soul.

So what “disciplines” do you need to throw into your mix that will help your garden grow well?

Peace to all gardeners today~