When I was growing up, my brother and I used to dig up the yard and plant seeds. We were trying to grow flowers. We used to think we were unsuccessful, and for years I just accepted the fact that I didn’t have a green thumb. It’s weird looking back on those times.
We planted bulbs. I remember when they grew. It seems the beautiful flowers were there one day and gone the next. I don’t truly remember if it they were gone the next or if it was more like in a few days. Back then it felt like failure. We were able to successfully grow marigolds. They were everywhere!
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit back in 2020, I decided to put a few seeds in pots of soil to see if I could grow anything. To my surprise, I successfully grew and harvested some Swiss chard. My son and I were so excited. I don’t remember anything else I tried to grow that year, but I do remember that nothing else even sprouted from the soil. After that I tried multiple things such as celery from the grocery store. I was able to get new growth for a while. Then I grew ginger, okra, lacinato (dinosaur) kale, lettuce, lemon balm, basil, green onions, mustard greens, radishes, turnips, spinach, carrots, cantaloupe, watermelon, red potatoes and sweet potatoes. I may have forgotten a few things, but I have been so proud of all I have been able to grow. I am looking forward to more. My boys have been so proud looking at and enjoying the harvests.
The kicker is that I have been doing all of this while scared. I cannot explain why I am afraid of nearly every bug, every snake, little animal, etc that could be out there. I just am. Some people say if you’re scared of these things, you shouldn’t be gardening. I don’t let that deter me because we are always taught to “Do it scared.” with everything else, so why should the message be any different while gardening? It shouldn’t be. I have a new appreciation for bees, lady bugs, butterflies, and earthworms. I still don’t want to see them fluttering or buzzing around me or touching me in any way. I will leave them to do their work in the garden while I go and mind my business.
One thing that really got me recently is I decided to dig a hole and bury an apple. I figured all of it would be good for the soil and hopefully I could get an apple tree started. About two days later, I went outside to check my plants and saw something on the pool deck. It occurred to me that it was the apple I had planted. I realized that something had dug up the apple, taken a few bites and left it there for me to see. I went right back in the house because, “What was it? Where was it? Was it watching me?” Those were all of my thoughts as I hurried back into the house. Don’t worry though. I have been right back out there still planting and tending to my garden.
Don’t let the negativity from people stop you from doing something that you are interested in doing. If you are scared to do something, it is just fine to do it while scared.
Until next time,
It’s Me
When I was growing up, my brother and I used to dig up the yard and plant seeds. We were trying to grow flowers. We used to think we were unsuccessful, and for years I just accepted the fact that I didn’t have a green thumb. It’s weird looking back on those times.
We planted bulbs. I remember when they grew. It seems the beautiful flowers were there one day and gone the next. I don’t truly remember if it they were gone the next or if it was more like in a few days. Back then it felt like failure. We were able to successfully grow marigolds. They were everywhere!
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit back in 2020, I decided to put a few seeds in pots of soil to see if I could grow anything. To my surprise, I successfully grew and harvested some Swiss chard. My son and I were so excited. I don’t remember anything else I tried to grow that year, but I do remember that nothing else even sprouted from the soil. After that I tried multiple things such as celery from the grocery store. I was able to get new growth for a while. Then I grew ginger, okra, lacinato (dinosaur) kale, black beans, lettuce, lemon balm, basil, green onions, mustard greens, radishes, turnips, spinach, carrots, cantaloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, red potatoes and sweet potatoes. I may have forgotten a few things, but I have been so proud of all I have been able to grow. I am looking forward to more. My boys have been so proud looking at and enjoying the harvests.
The kicker is that I have been doing all of this while scared. I cannot explain why I am afraid of nearly every bug, every snake, little animal, etc that could be out there. I just am. Some people say if you’re scared of these things, you shouldn’t be gardening. I don’t let that deter me because we are always taught to “Do it scared.” with everything else, so why should the message be any different while gardening? It shouldn’t be. I have a new appreciation for bees, lady bugs, butterflies, and earthworms. I still don’t want to see them fluttering or buzzing around me or touching me in any way. I will leave them to do their work in the garden while I go and mind my business.
One thing that really got me recently is I decided to dig a hole and bury an apple. I figured all of it would be good for the soil and hopefully I could get an apple tree started. About two days later, I went outside to check my plants and saw something on the pool deck. It occurred to me that it was the apple I had planted. I realized that something had dug up the apple, taken a few bites and left it there for me to see. I went right back in the house because, “What was it? Where was it? Was it watching me?” Those were all of my thoughts as I hurried back into the house. Don’t worry though. I have been right back out there still planting and tending to my garden.
Don’t let the negativity from people stop you from doing something that you are interested in doing. If you are scared to do something, it is just fine to do it while scared.
Until next time,
It’s Me
