From Seed to fruition

The same as you, dear reader, I fill many roles for others. 

I am a wife to my husband, a mother to my children, and recently, I am a student for myself. 

Looking to revitalize and restructure my life, I joined a Community College. In doing so I found the most interesting projects, people and connections through what some would argue to be a comparatively less valuable higher learning institution. 

Amid the Covid-19 restrictions barring students from classrooms, a professor I admire tasked the class with finding joy and hope, dedicating time to it and developing a way to present the information. 

Coronavirus interrupted global systems with unique challenges and barriers. 

In my opinion it has also opened opportunities for change. 

This assignment is developed around my own hope, which I have formed around a garden, but my true hope is that inspiration will leach out from here and reach people when and where they need it, nourishing seeds of another kind.

During the Covid-19 crisis many political and societal responses developed to build structure around the chaos and create a new normal. 

In the creation story of the Greek mythos, Chaos arrived to the scene first; made of void, mass, and darkness in confusion. This is a familiar dark tone. But there is light.

It was out of Chaos that Gaea formed into the complex living organism we call Earth. 

The mother and inspiration for every garden, we know her today as the goddess Gaia, or sometimes Terra.

The issue today is finding what can stabilize us as a new chaos emerges and gives way to another metaphorical Gaia.

I present to you:

Self help On a Patch of Dirt: Growth of Another Kind.

Learning to grow plants from seed has been a practice in exerting control in an otherwise idle and unpredictable time. Planting seeds and watching them grow is as innately fascinating as watching flames dance. It provides a sense of nurturing and feels downright wholesome. 

I write this not as an experienced gardener, but as a novice who buys started plants from garden suppliers and forgets to water them often. 

Seed packets look deceptively simple, beautiful and easy. When the snow melts and reveals the dreary mud I get excited to "reverse winterize," and seed packets start to pile up in my ambitious start to spring. Yet they always sit unopened as another season passes by like a missed opportunity. My assignment to find joy and hope pushed me towards tackling frustration and helplessness at the height of staying indoors. What greater power is there than to create something from nothing and solve your own problems? Chaos and Gaia had to work in tandem; an important reminder as we move forward solving new problems.

The Garden menu explores the process, literature, and the tips I've come by while being challenged to find Joy. Tour them in the order they appear for a full picture.

For my resources and more information on making friends with the dirt, head to "Further Readings" in the main menu.

Let's grow!