The Ministry of Happiness

The Joy of Gardening

Gardening is one of my best early memories. I remember digging in the garden in the backyard of the house I spent most of my time growing up in. We had a garden plot in the back corner of the yard and every year we grew tomatoes and peppers and other things that slip my memory. But my job as a little kid was to plant the radishes. I love radishes, now I rarely ever buy them, almost every year, even if it’s in containers I find some way to grow them. Often in containers they don’t get very big, but I still love pulling washing and crunching down on a radish. I often encourage elementary and pre-school teachers to grow radishes with their students from seed. Super easy to get the seeds started in paper towels and plant the little seedlings, they grow fast, are easy to grow and fun to eat.

I also have amazing memories of my grandfather teaching me how to grow tomatoes and roses. He tricked me into it by telling me the first thing we had to do was go fishing. We put a little fish in each hole under the plant to fertilize it. He always grew amazing roses and tomatoes and I work like hell to carry on that tradition.

Gardening brings me incredible joy, I like being in the dirt, love planting, watering, hell I even like weeding. There are always surprises in the garden, whether it’s a volunteer plant you didn’t expect, a ripe vegetable you didn’t expect or a critter. One of the most amazing things I’ve ever encountered was a huge two foot long lizard in my garden, scared me half to death, but was absolutely amazing.

But the absolute best thing thing about gardening is the eating and sharing. I always grow more than I alone can eat and this allows for two things. First, a lot of great vegetables to eat, and secondly the ability to share with folks who don’t have a garden. And third, it allows for the making and storing of things, sauce, salsa, dehydrated vegetables for soup and of course canning things like pickles.

As our society gets further and further away from being outside, knowing where our food comes from and having a relationship with it, gardening is a wonderful way to connect back. It’s also an incredible piece of quiet time, a small act of simplicity in an ever complex world. And a great way to have a happy day my friends. ~ Rev Kane