My dad is 79 years old, and he is a year-round gardener. He harvests food from his small plot, even in the dead of winter. He has already planted potatoes outside for next year, and planted some in his greenhouse that he will harvest over the winter months. He grows other food crops in containers in his greenhouse.
He is making strawberry beds and planting cover crops where he wants to grow corn and melons next year. He is harvesting collard, mustard greens and spinach now.
Last year he had fresh green beans for Thanksgiving, because he kept them covered on cold nights, and promptly removed the covering once the sun was up.
This year I am trying the same thing. I planted late green beans, and once frost was in the forecast, I covered them.
The late green beans are growing well.
Green beans covered late in the evening.
The problem is… I get busy in the mornings and forget to take the covers off. Beans do need sunshine and fresh air, not to mention water.
My dad is a year-round gardener, because he is committed. His life revolves around trudging out to the garden every day to see what work needs to be done and to check on his plants. He is constantly planning for his next crop. He sleeps, eats, and breathes gardening. It is his favorite topic of conversation and he remains in good health because of it.
He grows the food for his family and to share with other people. His barber, postman, doctors, nurses, and lab technicians have been recipients of his fresh vegetables.
It is hard for us younger people to emulate this. We get called away to different things, or maybe just don’t want to take the time and effort to follow through on something that needs so much attention.
I am trying to work on my attention to these details. Once the committed older folks, who know how to remain faithful to gardening work, leave this earth… who is going to take over? I am trying to learn how from my dad. I want to be one of the faithful and committed… to gardening and to my family.
What are you committed to?
“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:20-21
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