 My family has much to learn about gardening, but here’s our mixed up garden modeled somewhat after the forest which for eons has ably tended itself (June 5, 2012). |
My family’s garden was prepared by chickens who scratched the ground and enriched the soil with their manure – no other fertilizer was used. Seeds were planted. New plants breathed in the air, drank water, absorbed minerals, and enriched the soil. Leaves from nearby trees provided mulch to slowdown weeds. Diverse plants grew together for mutual benefit. Chickens continued to come – mostly munching on bugs – no pesticides desired or needed. Bugs, as they have for millions of years, also make contributions to plants. The whole family pitches in. Through nature, work, and generosity; food is being created for humans, horse, chickens, bugs, mice, sparrows, bluebirds, cuckoos, lizards, and many more.
One day we hope that our horse will help us garden too, but for now she keeps the grass manageable, and her beauty and personality provides us with much enjoyment. Our cat and canaries enrich our lives as well. Before long we might even accept a dog into our fellowship (that dog would be our first). In the last few years, particularly since the gulf oil spill in April 2010, but before then too, I have had growing concerns about the harms and dangers that pervade our lives. But more importantly, I have felt the call to embrace the incredible gifts that God wants to shower upon us always, renewable gifts that create real wealth for everyone. All this and more led my family to the country. Living in our new home in Deer Park, Alabama, we hope to become farmers working well with nature. We’ve had to reevaluate our priorities, how we live, and how we pray. By way of example, like the new berries and vegetables that feed my family, here is a prayer that I have composed and recently revised: You-Are-Who-Are, Infinite Lover of All, Eternal Creating Spirit! Kumbaya to us, Your beloved, yearning Children, that we may keenly see and profoundly appreciate the needs, beauty, and gifts of each person and all creation! Merciful, Grateful Liberator, unshackle us from every hurt, injustice, doubt, anger, dishonesty, conceit, shame, and fear! Save us from every urge to do or return evil! We-Are-Who-Are, drench us with free and abundant nourishment found throughout creation and through diverse and wondrous persons! We-Can-Who-Can, rouse us to champion a wholly renewed world where nothing is wasted, every gift is shared, and every need filled! We-Will-Who-Will, heal us through shared words, play, and work so that we will come alive as one family filled with infinite joy, generosity, hope, understanding, creativity, openness, forgiveness, and love! Friend of All, our Imminent Victory, be our All in All, together for the benefit of All! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! |
 I’ve heard some farmers speak of happy gardens. Here’s Rosie, my wife, enjoying our garden (June 5, 2012). |
 A young spring chicken searches for bugs in our garden where in American Indian tradition we have planted corn, squash, and beans together, the “three sisters” (June 5, 2012). This diversity in the garden is good for moderating the bug population. Bugs in moderate numbers invigorate gardens – without bugs we would all likely die. |
 A good morning of garden picking: herbs, berries, tomatoes, okra, beans, cucumber, summer squash, and two varieties of mystery squashes (June 4, 2012). I should have picked corn, tomatillos, and greens to add to this picture.  These blueberries are lush this time of year. Here’s a brown thrasher who had just fed a bug to its new hatchlings (June 7, 2012). |
