Out the sliding glass door of our kitchen, past the homemade supersized deck, Mom kept the garden of my childhood.
All summer long, hair secured in a ponytail, she wore her swimsuit like a uniform. She tended our garden, pulling weeds on repeat. I still recall the taste of dirt on green beans straight from that garden, the only dirt I’ve ever enjoyed.
We remember what we remember, and gardens pluck memories long hidden.
Back then, gardens were necessary, both for budgets and strawberry rhubarb pies. Mom baked from scratch, before we learned a hundred varieties of flour, before we lost hours engrossed in conflicting research, choosing between taste and nutritional value.
The garden reminds me of a time before life got hurried and sterile. When we spent long summer days running through our above-ground pool yelling Marco…Polo. We slathered pale skin with olive oil and dumped lemon juice on big heads of hair. We lounged around the deck on black blankets, next to a fat, orange Fluffy cat who shared a towel with a happy little dachshund named Scooter.
Those were the days before life became processed and plastic. Before we took daddy steps to ensure all our opportunities came safety-guaranteed. We knew there were no guarantees then. It wasn’t just a slogan. We didn’t believe in perfect.
We lived simply. We pulled weeds and watered, enjoyed the angel food cake, and carried on neighborly conversations across lawns in the middle of the day.
I’m afraid I don’t have what it takes to garden successfully anymore. Time, for one, to understand this art. Consistency, attention, green sense… I fall short. I relate more to plastic than I do to earth, sometimes. I understand formulas, little screens filled with words, and the importance of success.
But I long for a time I can remember. For summer, childhood, a simple garden that fed us all, with regular old dirt and seeds and sunshine and water. Unfiltered and messy, days made easy.
**This is another Five Minute Friday post with Lisa-Jo Baker. Lisa just introduced a project she’s excited about today, to build a sustainable community in her homeland, South Africa. Phase 1 will be a community GARDEN!  You can find out more about this project here. I’d love for you to visit and take part in this opportunity.
I remember all but the cat. I don’t think I was ever around when we had a cat. 🙂 Well…except the cats Dina & I fed secretly. 😉
I absolutely love growing our own food…chickens for eggs and the garden for herbs & veggies. Hopefully I won’t hate growing chickens for meat because that is happening soon! Currently, I have a bunch of little pots in my front window growing seedlings to put in the greenhouse. I’m hoping we have lots to share this year! We’re growing all kinds of new things this year too so let me know what you want!
I promise, Ang, I also have very little “green sense” and have to ask Keith a million questions per season and get his help with things because I suck with bugs and plant diseases. I’m learning new things each year though and I think my absolutely-no-pesticides-except-all-natural-things approach will do well this year since we had a cold winter! If you do still want to have a tiny garden, I suggest a couple easy veggies in containers. Herbs are pretty easy. you like chamomile tea, GROW THAT. It is so easy, grows very well in a container, and produces a ton of little apple-tasting flowers to boil into tea. 🙂
This made me miss those simple days. <3
I think the cat was gone by the time you came. You were like round 2. 🙂 You definitely inspire me with your gardening!!! I will give some things a try again this year. 🙂
Oh, my, goodness, I love this post! My sentiments EXACTLY!
Thank you!!!
Perfect… before all the research… yes. I’ve had to decide that I will garden what I can, buy what I can’t. I love the memory your post paints. visiting from FMF
Yes, Maxine…I am with you on that! Thanks for the comment!
Perfect… before all the research… yes. I’ve had to decide that I will garden what I can, buy what I can’t. I love the memory your post paints. visiting from FMF
Yes, Maxine…I am with you on that! Thanks for the comment!
I loved all of those memories!! Mom’s swim suit worn like a “uniform”, so true!! 😉
I loved all of those memories!! Mom’s swim suit worn like a “uniform”, so true!! 😉
Love you girls and your memories!! God has been so good!! Keep the homes going for God!!!♥♥♥♥♥♥☺☺☺☺☺