E's Gardening 101...

The Start of a Beginning...Year of 2022

"Gardening"

This statement means everything.

" The older the wiser".

It's not until you're a little older that you really start to understand the meaning of life and living. My role models in my life were my grandparents. The inspirations behind the decisions I would make when it came to running my household. My love for nature, planting, and growing many kinds of vegetables and flowers. There's a particular kind of peace that comes from stepping outside, hearing the quiet rustle of leaves, and knowing you grew something with your own two hands. It's an old-fashioned comfort, the kind our grandparents didn't question-they just knew. And honestly? They knew what they were doing. I have always thought that, to grow a garden, you need a considerable amount of land. That isn't the case, as I later learned. We moved into a home with a nice, sizable backyard with a patio. I didn't know what I wanted to do with it just yet. As the days went by and many thoughts ran through my mind, I was looking for ways to start something enjoyable with my husband, since he loves being outdoors. Growing up, I did too, but in recent years, you wouldn't have known. The real reasons were because of previous living locations, animals, and bugs, as well... Lol!?

Before we started shopping for the things we needed, I wanted to create a list of what I wanted to grow. As this was our first time, we decided to start small and few. Meaning, the basic vegetables are tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, and onions. The patio would be perfect due to its openness and sunlight. So we purchased a few pots and soil; however, we didn't want the look to be plain, so my husband started creating a look using pebbles, colorful rocks, and so forth...
And we started in February, with much anticipation. Also, due to my husband's busy schedule, his help would be limited. This was a good opportunity to involve my girls in the process, which would keep us physically healthy and bring us closer together. So the girls and I would start placing the pots, pouring the soil, everything looked perfect, mind you, again, my first time. During this process, I've learned that sunlight really was the boss and that some plants needed partial sunlight.

Starting this garden for me is growing what grows who you are individually. There's a holiness to gardening, a way the earth whispers back when you give it a little love and attention. Our grandparents knew this rhythm by heart, and when you step into it yourself, you feel something ancient wake within you. This story is how a simple corner of soil can become the beginning of a whole new start.

Gardening is a dance between tradition and hope. It's designed to keep us learning, keep trying, and let nature unfold slowly and steadily. I've realized that for me, it's not about just growing a garden, but about how it grows you to be more patient, more grounded, more observant, and more grateful. When Harvest time comes around, whether it's a basket full of tomatoes or just one perfect bloom... I felt that quiet victory ripple through me, smiling bigger than I had in a long time.

And... the first thing I did was pick up the phone and call my granddaddy with sheer happiness, because I finally knew how he felt growing his garden for many years. His garden was known by many, and he gave freely with open arms! Everyone loved my granddaddy and my grandmother.