Vegetable gardening on our property has made me feel like a failure over the years. The soil is terrible, the warmest spot gets only two hours of full sun, and despite all of my hopes and efforts, oregano and sage are some of the only plants that grow robustly.
So much for raising children who frolic through the garden path plucking handfuls of sugar snap peas and offer boxes of zucchinis to the neighbors.
I haven’t given up, though I need some major permaculture training to be able to foster new minerals and microbials before anything is going to survive in my plot.
In my need to observe life, I took to hanging out in two other gardens this summer, soaking up the miracle of open, sunny spaces and the resulting uber-growth happening. It just feels so good to be standing in all of that plant health.
Here’s a look at the wonder that occurs when sun is available for photosynthesis…
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL GARDEN (managed by Colleen Stewart) at 715 School Road:
THE ENCHANTED FOOD FOREST at ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (managed by Alex Wolf) at 107 Enchanted Forest Road:
Both gardens are wonderful to experience. I don’t mean from the sidelines, looking in from the fence. Sometime you’ll have to go in each one and just be for awhile. You’ll come out refreshed, content, fulfilled in some deep way. Simply ask, and both garden managers will not only welcome you in but also send you on your way with something lovely.
I thought about showing photos of what a garden (mine) looks like when it’s under a canopy of Douglas firs, but it’s just too sad. Nevertheless, I will persist. Thank you, Colleen and Alex, in the meantime.
Thanks for letting those beautiful Orcas gardens speak to someone as far away as Florida.
Oh, thank YOU, Steve!!