Our First Spring Planting: The Cycle Begins Anew

A few days ago, the new moon blessed us right before she slid over the horizon. We could see her whole form, dark in the sky, with just a tiny slice glowing bright. The time of the new moon is a time of new beginnings. The time of the new moon is a great time for starting our garden.

Spring appears to be here early this year. It was the first day of February when I noticed the first daffodils pushing their way out of the cold ground, and now things are budding all around us. My dad has been very busy in his greenhouse, starting tray after tray of new seeds. He gave us a whole beautiful flat of little peas, so strong and hopeful.

Yesterday we took advantage of a balmy, sunny morning to transplant our pea starts into their garden beds. The ground is still so wet that the only place to plant them is in a raised bed. We prepared the bed by raking some homemade fertilizer into the soil. The recipe is from my personal gardening bible.

Jai is a very enthusiastic and helpful gardener. I love working with him, but gardening with children does require one to be flexible and not too concerned about doing things perfectly right. It is a good time to practice deep breathing and to trust that all will be well.

Yasmina also delights in helping us in the garden. She loves the dirt - getting it on her hands, her face, all over her clothes.... thankfully she's over the phase of loving to eat it. She also prefers to pull the plants out of the ground rather than put them into the soil. Remember, deep breath.

She did discover that it's fun to plant them, too. 

I love sharing the wonder and miracle of life with my children. The garden is such a natural and satisfying place to do that. We talk about how the plants grow from the energy of the sun and the nutrients of the earth, and we in turn grow from the plants. A miracle, indeed.

Yesterday it was sunny and warm, and our peas got planted. Today it is cold and snowing. The peas look out bravely from their bed.

May our peas grow tall and strong. May they be nourished by the sun and the earth, and may we be nourished by the peas.     *Gratitude*