As spring turns to summer, it's that time when we see an abundance of fruitfullness coming forth from the garden. If you have an annual or seasonal garden it's something you are used to seeing. But, do we see the story behind the seed going to a plant? Are we able to realize that we are seeing miracles abounding in nature? Life is a miracle; something that God supplies constantly, like water flowing from a stream or a river. (Revelation 22:1-2)
Anticipating spring, as a person that likes to grow her own food, it brings me so much delight! I am careful about the seeds I purchase as everyone should be if they wish to have a 'pure-bred' seed that has not been Genetically Engineered. (To learn about GMO foods go here).
Lest I forget, I remind myself to remember the miracle of 'Life' and not get caught up in the routine. Seeds always have a little miracle life in each or else it would'nt grow.
Once the seed is planted, the outside shell starts decaying as the tiny plant starts to grow - a new plant grows and bears fruit.
In John 12:24-26, Jesus shares how we are the same as the seeds we plant. It applies to every intelligent man or woman on earth. We are meant to fall down at the feet of Jesus. Self must die so that the spiritual self lives, grows and yields fruit - all followed by a cycle of life and eventually Eternal Life.
There are many ways to do things - I hope you will find my mistakes with gardening a lesson in how not to worry - I am learning to 'let go' of getting it all done and learning to accept the process.
The photo below was my garden last year-
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This year you can see it didn't get near the attention it did last year. I have a few tomatoes and cucumbers and zucchini this year along with herbs, perenials and bulbs I've grown from seed. Many, many plants have been given to me from neighbors and friends. Next year we will get our act together.
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Above photo is a comfrey plant that came up from last year - comfrey super hardy and a perenial and an herb used for bruises and to soothe sore muscles and joints. I've learned it's also good for making a compost tea to fertilize veggies and flowers.
Because my mulching and garden beds didn't get done this year I went and purchased The Green Stalk Garden. It holds over 30 plants and does the job. It's not the beautiful garden that I would have liked the garden to look like , but it is holdiing the promise of plants that will live on next year in the form of perennials and herbs. (The cover is a separate purchase but advisable if you have mega bugs and small animals. It's made in the USA).
![thornless blackberry bush thornless blackberry bush](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/2126642/416503_570863.png)
I'm laughing at my thornless blackberry bush, (above) - I killed my first 3 blackberries because I didn't put them in the ground before winter ended so they died. This one has got a ton of berries on it and soon will be ripened. We have super hard clay soil here in east TN. Hard to believe that anything here can grow, but grow it does! We have a 'rain-forest' eco-system. It rains and pours at least 1-3 times a week. Because of the verdent atmosphere, wild muscadine grapes and other indigenous plants come through my mulch without approval! I discovered an elderberry bush that popped up without coercion in my front yard!
I planted five elderberry bushes in my back yard, (not shown) - I got all five of these from our mennonite friends as a gift! I'm so grateful to have them and hope to use them for elderberry syrup and tinctures.
Below is my little teensy muscadine grape vine I purchased at the Mennonite farm - I'm dissappointed at its lack of growth, (although it's been mulched and fertilized). Muscadine grapes are indigenous to east TN. This grape juice is SO sweet and delicious and filled with tons of natural health benefits and can be made into jams, pies and fruit leather.
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In the photo below you will see in the way back that there is a beautiful iron trellis laying on the grass - one of our neighbors was throwing it away so of course we nabbed it up for our soon to be garden. It will eventually get installed in cement so it wont get blown in the wind -
![Raised beds that are holding garlic and onions Raised beds that are holding garlic and onions](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/2126642/967695_116009.png)
This is the scope of what I would like my side yards to resemble alongside herbs and vegetables. I will start in October layering newspaper, chipped leaves, branches and mushroom mulch to get the decomposing started.
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Below are what I'm growing this year: zucchini, cucumber, tomato and herbs. Kind of sparse but not getting disappointed. There is a season for everything - next year...next year.
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This month B-Stress Complex and Magnesium Complex is Discounted at 15%
Many will want to have a consultation so as not to 'guess' at what you need for your body to recover and have consistant good health. I work with my clients considering what you need and how to get to a better/best place. There is never a one size fits all answer. I work with you and help you look for and find answers.
I look forward to hearing from you - you may email me at mariariccihealth@gmail.com
God Bless,
Maria Ricci