Garlic cloves were planted this past weekend. Season over.
I love every aspect of gardening: the creativity, Nature’s amazing constant freshness and surprises -plant, insect, and birds, food fresh picked or in deep winter born of this land and my heart and Nature’s giving. Hoses and connectors put away; the garden bench back in the shed; seeds put into cold storage. Ahhhh. Done.
And, it took its toll. I feel that gardening, when one fully loves it and engages in its fullness, is like going into birth-labor. Labor is unique with each child’s birth, but the principles are the same. Gardening is like this. Natural births, natural miracles. Nature’s garden, Nature’s wonder. Each something -the bug you never saw before, the first swallowtail butterfly on the early purple penstemons, the newest sprouts or the taste of the first thing eaten that season and then new tastes all season long- they are all similar to gazing at a newborn, drawing the baby close. Ahhhh.
The toll is worth it, immeasurably so. I was grateful for the friend who helped on occasion. Her work and joy flowered and fruited through the year. As she would return for another visit, her joy was palpable as her work grew into its splendor and abundance. All the while, between the climate-change heat and drought and the body’s advancing MS, newness had to be seriously considered before next Spring. The needs were obvious. Vision it. Talk to the right neighbors (DIY aficionados) and get it done before Colorado mountain cold sets in.
Right here in little Jaroso is an expert in compost and soil. It’s his business; and he’s a great guy, to boot! Nine beds plus the 17 ft. bed by the house all would be made deeper/taller for easier wheelchair access and to give the roots more cool soil to thrive in. A saw mill in the Valley produces untreated, rough-cut lumber from local, mountain trees. I am not a fan of cutting down any trees. Each one is an entire habitat. Yet, one complexity of being human is that we want. That means we take. Is human conjured forestry management actually helpful to the forest? I don’t know. Sounds like rationalization to me. And, that’s what I did with my need for lumber: rationalized it: a garden able to thrive serves many kinds of beings. Okay, order the lumber.
I love the outcome! and sense years of growing abundance for all beings. The guys that worked on it, one elder, one younger, did a great job. It’s all a little katty-whompous because the new was built up from the old which was really imperfect. In Japanese, the thought is “wabi-sabi”: perfect imperfection. I love it completely.
Everything from potatoes, carrots, and leeks can be grown in their depth. Bush beans and peas, rather than trellising varieties, will have to go in the new beds. Climbing varieties will go in the ground beds left for such produce and climbing flowers. Of course, seeds from all are gathered and dried each year.
We also designed the capacity for some beds to have shade cloth. The uprights are in place. Next July, we’ll give it a go. I’ll use cheap window sheers that are already among my garden equipment. Beds are mulched for winter (no photo). Sleep well, wormies!
May you have a restful deep Autumn and Winter. May your larder provide sustenance and a smile. May your seeds keep well ’til next season. May you be well. May you be happy. Peace!
