Food for Thought

Daily we are surrounded by opportunities
for growth, seeds for change, and lightbulb
moments. What we do with each of these,
is simply put, a matter of choice. The choice
can span a wide range of responses. Some
may be familiar to you:

• "I don't see, hear or feel a thing!" [Other wise known as Complete Denial]



• "Oh, that's nice!" [Hmm, maybe you need this, but I'm just FINE!]



• "I'll get back to this someday" [Ding! Ding! Ding! Alarm bells sound, but not ready yet]



• "I need to do Something!" [ Dive into exploration...read...attend classes...join groups..etc]



• "I'm ready and I surrender" [You begin to empty out, so you can fill up]

So here is a QUOTE that provides some food for thought:

“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”

—Carlos Castaneda (1925-1998), author, philosopher

Any thoughts on this?

And here is the rest of it.

Read more!

Views of April

Garden Journal: April 24, 2008
As I sit here this morning having a cup of coffee, I decided to download some of the garden photos I took yesterday. These are pictures from sections in the Elemental Garden. (Photo to the Right: Wild Violets)

These violets make my soul smile...they are pure love and beauty. Last year as I was clearing the space for the garden, there were a few of these beauties.

It was decided to make room for them, invite them in to spread, and see what would happen the following season. I can not even begin to tell you how gorgeous they look and how abundant they are. So in this garden, as well as many of the other beds on the property, they are one of the first flowering arrivals to spread their seeds of happiness.

The Elemental Garden
She is awakening for the first time. Last summer she was created with much love and focus, as I worked together with the Deva of the Garden to create a retreat for the Elementals who have worked so hard to keep our skies overhead clear and our land flourishing with abundance. If you are interested in the full story about the origins of this amazing space, read Elemental Garden Retreat Project.

I have been amazed at the ease of preparation as I cleared her beds from the long winter's nap. Also, I am so excited and anxiously awaiting each new development as I see who pops up each day.

So why not grab a hot cup of whatever your choice is and join me as I share just a few of the photos from the Elemental Garden.

PHOTO: Meditation Bench

I am thrilled with this section and can't wait until it is in full bloom. A trellis was placed at each side and then bamboo laid across the top. Last year's clematis is coming up nicely, and will travel up and over to create a shelter from the strong afternoon sun. In front of the bench are two woodlike tree cravings, each with grasses planted beside them. Two Tiki Torches are also placed in this area, so we can sit out at night and enjoy the garden under the moonlight!

PHOTO: Tool Shed

What a joy it is when I can take something that was trashed or is soon to be trashed and give it a second life and purpose. It thrills me to take on the challenge of creating something from seemingly nothing.

It was becoming a hassel to constantly run back and forth from the garden for all the tools I needed while working, so I dedicated this back section to house the tools.

Using an old section of fencing that my husband found on the side of the road, we cut it up to form a small enclosure. Hooks were put inside to hang the tools. There is space to stack some empty plastic pots inside on the ground. The wire fencing that surrounds the garden also provides storage for the assorted piles of stakes and bamboo poles that can be weaved into place there. A piece of plastic tarp covers the top but it is rather flimsy. This year we are upgrading to a roof, my husband the great trash finder, has a discarded plastic roof from an old golf cart that he will attach to the top.

PHOTO: Tiled Storage Unit

This unit is off to the side of the Tool Shed. We got this old beat up

cabinet from a garage sale last summer, then using grout and tiles,
covered the top. It was my first attempt at a tile project and I
am proud of the results. It is used to store the smaller stuff...seed
packets, scissors, ties, lables, pens...It blends in nicely with the
surroundings.

PHOTO:

Center Garden: Section 1

The garden was started with the intention of just being a small center circle. Agh, that's not enough! So four small beds surrounding the center circle were added. Agh, now that needs more defination, so four more sections were added, with a pathway between the center circle and the outer surrounding beds.

This photo is the first bed outside the center circle. I put together a trellis system out of bamboo. This will support morning glories. Last year I did this and it was strikenly beautiful. The problem was the bamboo trellis design was not strong enough to support the weight of the flowers and at times any strong wind that blew through. This year I slighlty altered the design and provided additional support with more stakes...I think I have a winner.

Well my coffee has long been done and I need to move along with the work of the day. Thanks for joining me. Hope you will stop by again soon to see what's new.

Let me leave you with this Seeds for Change Thought to ponder:

"Criticizing another's garden doesn't keep the weeds out of your own" .

Now go ahead and make it an amazing day!

And here is the rest of it.

Read more!

Let the Weeding Begin!

Garden Journal: April 23, 2008
A Weeding Meditation

Here is one view of the outside of the Elemental Garden in need of weeding. Off in the back right corner is a shed we constructed last year out of a piece of old fencing. This is where I keep my tools stored so it isn't necessary to run back and forth out of the garden. A piece of plastic tarp that was laying around was used for the top. Worked ok for last year, but this year we are headed for an upgrade. My husband has a piece of used roof from a golf cart that we will place over top. The advantage...we won't be sticking our head into the tarp with each entry into the shed.

Inside in the foreground is a wooden bench and anchored beside it on each side is a wooden trellis. Last year a clematis was planted at the base of each late in the season. So they have come back this year and are looking strong and healthy. Laying across the top are just bamboo poles sitting on the top of each trellis. The plan is to have the clematis grow strong and hardy up and across the trellis providing a natural bit of shade to sit under on the bench, as well as something beautiful to look at.

To the left and right of the bench I planted quite a few perennials last year that hopefully will make a strong return this spring. The paths were a challenge to keep weeded. Don't be fooled by those beautiful magazine photos! I have tried, unsuccessfully to discover the Lazy Gardener's Way to Weeding, and frankly, I don't think it exists. There are techniques that can be done to help make the task less labor intensive, but it will never be weed free by wishing.

So after many different ideas and approaches last year, I decided to work smart and settled on laying thick layers of newspaper and cardboard boxes down on the paths. This was then covered with pine bark nuggets. It blew my initial budget out of the water, with the purchase of the mulch, 'cause I was determined to do it for pennies, but like I said, I decided to play it smart which meant not being penny wise and dollar foolish. It overwintered well, and requires little in the way of maintenance at this point. This year the plan is to pull back some of the bark, add more cardboard and newspaper, then reapply the mulch.

One trick I learned was to have a big barrel of water beside me and soak the paper and cardboard before laying it down. This kept it in place and made it easier to work with. Also this approach has the benefit of recycling material as well as creating more of a barrier between the weeds and mulch. Weeds do make their way through, but hand picking regularly when the weeds are small and few in number keeps it manageable.

So the last few days I have been spending my time doing what I call Weeding Meditation. First I connect with the Deva of the Elemental Garden so we can work together and have asked to be guided and inspired as I do the clearing. This activity is helping me to empty my mind of all the clutter and baggage I am carrying around and get in tune with the energy of the land. This will help to set the foundation of what to plant and where to plant it once the weeds are clear.

I have already filled in the compost area rather fully and am asking for guidance and suggestions on how to get this compost down to a manageable useable state in just a few weeks.




( To the Left) This compost pile that runs the length of the outside of the garden fence, contains all the weeds, leaves and sticks from the various beds and gardens around the property. My husband, when I wasn't paying attention, put all this years compost on top of last years, now I need to go back and reassemble the compost piles...like I said, really no easy way... Guess I'll be doing Weeding Meditation alot longer than I originally had anticipated!




( To the Left) Here is one of the overflow compost piles that needs to be cut up into smaller pieces . This contains mostly cut off branches from shrubs and of course our Christmas Tree.


. And here is the rest of it.

Read more!

Garden Season Officially Opened

Photo of the Elemental Garden, Summer 2007

After much anticipation...waiting, and waiting for the weather to change and my blood to warm up...Spring Has Arrived in PA and I am now working almost full time outside. I started a few days ago, but my body went into major retaliation. After basically laying dormant the past few months, each muscle loudly protested the spring baptism into manual labor. But now, with 3 days under my belt, things are under better control.

So here's the scoop, we have 10 major beds surrounding our property that need to be cleaned out, spruced up, and worked. In addition to that there is my treasured Elemental Garden, started last year, two long stretches of what we call tiger country, and a golf green. All of this is nestled onto one acre of land.

My goal is to move away from the traditional lawn and into a naturescape...to work with the land to grow food, herbs, spices, flowers, fruits, and natural habitat for all the critters that reside in our neighborhood. So in the upcoming season most of this blog will be devoted to the adventures of planting these seeds for change. It is a daunting task, but a definite labor of love.

I will be adding photos of what is being done as well as commentary along the way. We work organically...to fertilize, to correct imbalances, to build a healthy soil. I also like to use sound environmental practices for the hardscape...using recycled materials as much as possible, and to keep the costs manageable.

Hope you will stop by and visit on occasion to see what is new and developing in the daily adventures of Gardening with Seeds for Change! Well off to work, see you in a bit!

And here is the rest of it.

Read more!

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

This is a poem by Portia Nelson that just nails it in regards to the way many of us do things in life. If you have a re-occuring life pattern that keeps popping up, creating a challenge for you, then I encouarge you to carefully read Portial Nelson's words. Reflect on them. And see what Chapter you currently are reading!

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

Chapter 1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost.
I am hopeless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't beleive I am in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.

Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in; it is a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter 5
I walk down another street.


Isn't that just the most profound way of putting it? This hits me at a deep level. I found this poem several years ago, and it has helped me tremendously. It creates a reminder for me and helps me see what I am doing. I hope you find it useful as well.

Read more!

10 Steps to Inner Peace

Here are 10 Symptoms of Inner Peace, as described by Wayne Dyer's from a talk at a conference in Arizona,these were handed down to him, now they are being passed off to you.

These can be described as providing food for the soul, so take some time to reflect on each statement, examine each closely in relationship to your personal situations, and then pass them through the heart center, to notice what your are feeling. If you like, share a bit of your thoughts with the rest of us.

STEPS TO GAINING INNER PEACE
1. Displaying the tendency to act spontaneously, less planned.

2. Showing the ability to enjoy each moment.

3. A loss of interest in judging other people.

4. A disinterest in explaining the behavior of others.

5. A decision to give conflict a ‘pass’.

6. You’ll stop watching/reading the news — sources of negativity & conflict.

7. Loss of the ability to ‘worry’.

8. Frequent episodes of appreciation & connectedness with people & nature.

9. Frequent ‘attacks’ of smiling.

10. An increased susceptibility to the love provided by others & an uncontrollable urge to love others.

.

Read more!

Professional Perspectives: Fluoride in Tap Water

Fluoride...What Do You Really Know About It?

Watch this interesting video and then if you want to read more information, read the post The History of Fluoride.



. And here is the rest of it.

Read more!

Random Acts of Kindness

SPREADING SEEDS FOR CHANGE
Join me in spreading Seeds for Change....simple ways to bring about balance and harmony to make ourselves and this world a little better each day. So for today's debut...let's give a warm round of applause for:

Random Acts of Kindness...This concept has been around for quite a long time. These are those sweet or lovely things we do for no reason except that, momentarily, the best of our humanity has sprung into full bloom. So as we head more fully into Spring, how about dedicating some time to Random Acts of Kindness.

Here Are Some Suggestions for Practicing Acts of Kindness:

• Leave a kind note for someone close to you in their wallet, lunch, car...saying how much you appreciate them
  


• When baking or making something yummy in your kitchen, do a double batch and share with someone else
  


• Let the person behind you in the grocery store line go ahead of you, even if they have more than a few items.
  


• Print up a few pages of business cards that say something like Thanks for The Great Service! I appreciate your hard work to make my (fill in the blank) enjoyable. Leave them behind for your waitress/waiter, housekeeper at the hotel, actually any service person you encounter.
  


• Smile warmly, look at another clearly, and share some genuine words of thoughtfulness, it can be as simple as that.

We are only limited by our self imposed restrictions...go out and make it a great Day of Kindness. And, yes....do get back to us and share what you are doing to make other peoples days beautiful!

. And here is the rest of it.

Read more!

Container Herb Gardening

Container gardening is a great way to grow plants, vegetables and herbs without needing a lot of space. Herbs do especially well and can be grown right outside your kitchen door. In this video, you'll learn how to use an old farmer's market basket to make a great container garden. Fill it with your favorite herbs and your cooking will be full of flavor all summer long.(6 minutes)

Read more!