This piece is a drink of cool water as sweet as the first peas of the growing season. Gardening is a balm and an incentive to keep believing in tomorrow. 💚
I agree, gardens and growing things encourage, maybe require us to believe in tomorrow. Belief and hope go hand in hand and are followed by gratitude and contentment.
My heart resonates deeply with your words. I too, have found solace in gardening. Creating small pops of beauty within the world of darkness and cruelty is what I attempt to do. Most of my adult life as a single mother of two, I rented houses and turned them into homes. I left extensive perennial gardens I created at each place, and have never been back to see if they still stand.
For my application letter to Antioch University for my MA in Clinical Psych, I wrote about this very thing:in this life, “we must do something to make the world more beautiful” (the concept from one of my favorite children’s books, Miss Rhumphius.)
Because we’re 100% organic and wouldn’t have it any other way, but it also means that despite layers of weed paper, massive amounts of weeds clog up the garden and take sustenance from the veg and perennials. And when we have to rake them out, we inevitably end of raking the pea gravel as well. So it’s a bit of a pain.
And thank you for the shoutout! And for the great read while we are stuck in traffic not far from you heading to a memorial in Noroton and then back to the Island!
Elissa, I love your writing and it is a special treat when a piece about gardening finds its way to me. I still think about your piece about the asparagus, the timing of life, the hopefulness. I wrote an essay a few years ago called Imperfect Bounty, about our place in the Berkshires, my husband’s obsession with the outdoors and mine with the in. When I fill out my own substack I will share it with you. Thank you again for the beauty you put into the world. - Kerri
Cultivating survival skills so we can feed ourselves when this country officially tanks and no one except the billionaires will be able to buy groceries. Especially eggs.
It is always hard to comment on your posts since they all just kind of leave me dumbfounded and stunned--in a very good way! But make no mistake, I love every one of them and read them all more than once--xo
As always, you inspire me Elissa. My family is experiencing layers of grief and turmoil and has been for more than 5 years. What started as a behavioral health crisis, has turned into chronic crisis in multiple areas of our lives.
That said, the timing of your writing could not be more perfect. 26 years ago we bought a “pond on 2 acres that came with a house and shop” (the house is older, and decent, though in need of a few updates). Our property is located in the Cascade foothills of SW Washington state and surrounded by woodlands and wildlife (the herd of deer who wander through our yard has grown to 14 strong).
Which brings me to my question - can you recommend a gardening book that incorporates creative ways to grow a vegetable garden (without building a 7-foot fence around it if we can help it) and shield it from the rabbits and deer who tend to get to it before we can? (I’ve had deer walk onto my front porch to enjoy my cherry tomatoes right before I harvest).
Thank you, again, for being true to yourself and inspiring so many of us to do the same.
This piece is a drink of cool water as sweet as the first peas of the growing season. Gardening is a balm and an incentive to keep believing in tomorrow. 💚
I agree, gardens and growing things encourage, maybe require us to believe in tomorrow. Belief and hope go hand in hand and are followed by gratitude and contentment.
Eternal optimism
Anything and everything from Erin Benzakein at www.floretflowers.com.
This is wonderful! Thank you!
My heart resonates deeply with your words. I too, have found solace in gardening. Creating small pops of beauty within the world of darkness and cruelty is what I attempt to do. Most of my adult life as a single mother of two, I rented houses and turned them into homes. I left extensive perennial gardens I created at each place, and have never been back to see if they still stand.
For my application letter to Antioch University for my MA in Clinical Psych, I wrote about this very thing:in this life, “we must do something to make the world more beautiful” (the concept from one of my favorite children’s books, Miss Rhumphius.)
Pining for a garden 🥰 thank you for sharing this.
I love seeing your garden. Why was the pea gravel a bad idea?
Because we’re 100% organic and wouldn’t have it any other way, but it also means that despite layers of weed paper, massive amounts of weeds clog up the garden and take sustenance from the veg and perennials. And when we have to rake them out, we inevitably end of raking the pea gravel as well. So it’s a bit of a pain.
I love reading about your garden and seeing the photos from over the years. Thank you for sharing.
And thank you for the shoutout! And for the great read while we are stuck in traffic not far from you heading to a memorial in Noroton and then back to the Island!
That trip is going to be such a balm ! And all your gardens are so lovely
Elissa, I love your writing and it is a special treat when a piece about gardening finds its way to me. I still think about your piece about the asparagus, the timing of life, the hopefulness. I wrote an essay a few years ago called Imperfect Bounty, about our place in the Berkshires, my husband’s obsession with the outdoors and mine with the in. When I fill out my own substack I will share it with you. Thank you again for the beauty you put into the world. - Kerri
I agree. There is nothing better than a garden/ veggie patch etc.
“Gardening is the human response to grief…” so very true, Elissa. On the knees, in the dirt, that’s where I started to get clean.
Cultivating survival skills so we can feed ourselves when this country officially tanks and no one except the billionaires will be able to buy groceries. Especially eggs.
It is always hard to comment on your posts since they all just kind of leave me dumbfounded and stunned--in a very good way! But make no mistake, I love every one of them and read them all more than once--xo
Another beautiful post. Thank you!
Maria Rodale has a very passionate Substack that combines politics, aging, and organics.
https://mariarodale.substack.com/
As always, you inspire me Elissa. My family is experiencing layers of grief and turmoil and has been for more than 5 years. What started as a behavioral health crisis, has turned into chronic crisis in multiple areas of our lives.
That said, the timing of your writing could not be more perfect. 26 years ago we bought a “pond on 2 acres that came with a house and shop” (the house is older, and decent, though in need of a few updates). Our property is located in the Cascade foothills of SW Washington state and surrounded by woodlands and wildlife (the herd of deer who wander through our yard has grown to 14 strong).
Which brings me to my question - can you recommend a gardening book that incorporates creative ways to grow a vegetable garden (without building a 7-foot fence around it if we can help it) and shield it from the rabbits and deer who tend to get to it before we can? (I’ve had deer walk onto my front porch to enjoy my cherry tomatoes right before I harvest).
Thank you, again, for being true to yourself and inspiring so many of us to do the same.