The other day I was out in the garden in a misty almost sprinkle.
I had to drag my self off the couch, away from the computer, out into the gray. I didn’t want to go out, but I knew the garlic needed to be planted.
For years, I’ve said I should grow garlic but come October or November, I’m not programmed to plant. I’m programmed to harvest and preserve. I’m pushing myself to get the garden cleaned up before it gets too cold. I’m ready to nestle inside with something in the oven to warm the house and meet my need for comfort food.
But this past weekend, I pushed myself out into the mess of weeds and the fallen leaves choking the bed where I planted late lettuce.
I looked at the carrots ready to be pulled and the potatoes ready to be dug. I noticed the three green pumpkins on wilted vines, dry grass, and wilted weeds, and the cosmos and zinnias that had finally succumbed to the cold.
“Garlic,” I reminded myself, and I started to dig.
I loosened the soil and dug weeds just where I needed to. I rolled the creaky old wheelbarrow over to the open face of the compost pile and pushed aside the mulched leaves my husband has started to pile there.
I added the compost to my beds, pressed the paper sheathed garlic into the soft, cold ground. I didn’t worry about watering. The weather would do it for me.
I worked until my glasses started getting to spotted, and I found myself smiling and relaxed and invigorated. Instead of a chore, I was doing what I loved. I was outside, moving my body, gettin my hands dirty. I starting something new during a time of wrap up, getting ready for winter and getting ready for spring.
I should get out there today. It’s not even raining.
Write with Me Wednesday
Write
What makes smile, even unexpectedly? Write about something you love doing even though it’s uncomfortable or messy or hard or mundane. You might start with
Lovely post and I will do my best to not feel guilty that I didn’t get my winter garden in this year…. (there is even a winter gardening book on the pile beside my bed, forgotten). But yes, getting out there in the dirt, rain or shine, is so refreshing. Nourishment for the soul.
No guilt allowed, Parrish : ) I’ve been dreaming about cold frames for years and am no closer to having them.
I love what I get out of the garden—and sometimes it’s not the vegetables that matter most.
Love this Sara! It is spring here, and I find myself in the garden every stolen minute I can. There is something so rejuvenating about dirt.
Hannelene, you made me think of this quote from Margaret Atwood: “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Enjoy your spring!
Oh, you’re so right. Writing is that way for me. So hard to get started but once I do, I’m in my zone and just love it!
I still try to schedule my writing to help me get over the getting started part—and it’s definitely helped.
Lovely post. I had a similar experience this week. I ‘wrote with you’ almost for real. I have been putting off getting back to blogging for ages. And this week, I wrote one! Yay for garlic and blogs!
Yay for getting back to blogging. Just left a comment for you!
SO true! Getting outside always makes me feel better, even if it’s the very.last.thing. I wanted. And there’s nothing more prone to keeping me indoors than chilly weather and the computer blinking at me from the corner of the room, reminding me of everything I could be working on. :p How long before you’ll be able to harvest your garlic?
xox
giedre
ps. Just found you via the fb group Lovable Content Creators. I’m a photographer/blogger located in Chicago and am so excited to follow along with your blog. 🙂
Garlic won’t be ready until late next summer, but I’ll get garlic scapes in the spring, and I love those for pesto!
Lovely post! I have to get out there and cut back the hostas!