On Friday, I woke up in the morning in complete anticipation...it was like I had been away from home for a great length of time and I was headin' back. The morning was gorgeous - it would be a perfect day. Then the plane was delayed! I had to wait..the kids were in that very lazy way of getting ready and we were running behind schedule to get out of the house. I was going to be late! The thought of it was driving me NUTS!
You see, I love the garden. Getting dirty, digging up the soil, feeling the earth at my fingertips, having your muscles ache...planting a little bit of life and seeing what God will allow to happen....now that is what I am talkin' about!
The thing that has made this particular garden so dear to my heart is the people. It is more than just work - it is a whole lot of great relationships.
It is like hibernating all winter and when it is starting to get nice outside, everyone else shows up! The garden is a unique community of people and we love it!
It is a Homeschool Community Garden. Each family pays dues for the year to provide for the materials that will be needed that season. One family has donated the use of their land for years for this project. We finally came up with a name for their place the "Crooked Rows Farm" - we can't get the rows straight!
This is only our second season but our family has felt like we have been a part of this for years - that is how wonderful the friendships are here. The kids work part of the time and socialize the rest...HA! They learn a great deal throughout the whole growing season.
This year we are branching out and after the families have gathered what they need for that week, we will offer baskets of produce for sale to other homeschool families in the area.
We are also going to have a chicken co-op. A 10-week class on raising chickens for the dinner table. We were part of the "pilot" program last year (without the classes). We did what it took to "prepare" the chickens for the table!
There are more families than even last year and last year had the most participants since Homeschool Harvesters originated.
There isn't anything quite like driving down the gravel road each week. You never know who will be there, what the conversations will entail or how much work you will get done. That is the great thing about the garden - you just go and get to be surprised!
This looks so fun. Maybe I should start home schooling. But who would I home school? Molly & Bailey? LOL
Posted by: karrie baker | April 21, 2009 at 07:02 AM
I have always wanted to participate in the H.H. but for one reason or another have not been able to. One year it will work out just right! ENJOY!!!
Posted by: Sonya | April 21, 2009 at 09:15 AM