Early Spring, I'm back

The residents were happy to see that their bulbs survived the mild winter and are blooming.  I really do see it as a metaphor. " J" came up to me and grinned that her flowers had bloomed and some that were planted in the front of the house had been broken off.  Now they were safe in a vase on the communal kitchen table. As she spoke to me her face was glowing and her dark skin shined, it seemed smooth and full of life.  There was definitely something different about her.  I told her how healthy she looked.  She beamed,  "clean for 7 months. "  She had to rush off, she had a meeting.









Lots of preparation work to be done.  Our composters need to be fixed and I need to find someone I can count on to be responsible to turn them daily or at least a few times a week. Soon we can prep the beds.  I am itchy to get back and start to work but not very hopeful that I will get much help.

seasons change

It has been so long since I have posted about my time in the gardens at New Jerusalem.  Since fall brought  cooler weather I have helped plant scallions from thread thin seedlings, tiny cabbage and broccoli plants.  I have helped turned beds and added compost to enrich the soil.  The yard has been cleaned up. As many as possible of the fallen tomatoes were removed from the soil so that next spring we would not find so many volunteer tomato plants.

 

  

                             
                                                    

              In November the residents continued to clean up the grounds. It is a never ending process.

Cleaning up the grounds

Planting spring bulbs 

       

This resident is SO excited to see HER  flowers bloom in the spring.

          A generous horticulturist donated many daffodil bulbs for "us" to plant. Thanks Walt!

When I brought the bags of bulbs into the house the women asked, what are these? garlic, onions, what do you do with them?  A few of them offered to help me plant them before the frost came. It was amazing to see their care given to digging the holes and correctly placing the bulbs.

I too can't wait to see how we will have beautified the grounds and hopefully have an influence on the neighborhood

Picking peppers!!

             Drying picked peppers.    

          All varieties                                                        

Last week, after the early snow and the horrific power outages that crippled the Northeast corridor, I went to the gardens to see if there was any damage.  Fortunately there was none.

       I needed to pick what was left of the harvest.  Green tomatoes, ripe ones, and so many kinds of peppers.  I picked 2 bushels of tomatoes.  Sr Margaret will jar them and use during the cold winter months. I also picked as many peppers as possible and I am drying them at home.!

preparing strawberry bed

The strawberry bed had been somewhat neglected, hidden under asparagus ferns or weeded out accidentally.  I prepared a bed after reading up about how to on the link below.   I carefully transplanted them, leaving the runners intact. I planted them in rows and not too deep or shallow.  I hope the spring finds them alive!

http://strawberryplants.org/2010/05/growing-strawberries/

watered strawberry bed

So coincidental that tonight the post on Facebook from Father James Martin, SJ pertains to my feelings in the garden.  After hours of work I feel I have little to show for it.
https://www.facebook.com/FrJamesMartin
Evening prayer: 


In today's Gospel, Jesus talked about the mustard seed that grows into the great plant. I know that the mustard seed is one of the smallest of all seeds. Sometimes, God, my efforts feel like that--tiny, insignificant, worthless. But I know that it is you who make something of them, and bring them to fruition. Today I offer you all of my little mustard seeds: all the things that I tried to do today for others, all the efforts that I made on your behalf, all the times I chose to love. Tonight I offer you those seeds and ask you to help them grow, which they will, in your own time. And even if I never see where and when they blossom, I know I will enjoy their fragrance in your kingdom.