Farmer's Wife

Over the course of my life, I have contemplated the desire to own a good piece of property, own livestock (including chickens, a pig, and a cow or two, and a horse or two), have a huge garden, and become totally self-sufficient. As I have grown to adulthood, and married a man who wouldn't necesarrily fit the mold of "FarmerBoy", I realized that it wouldn't be possible to be TOTALLY self-sufficient. And it will be a heckuvalotta work for me. Exhausting, yet rewarding work. In the most recent years, as we've travelled to places we'd only read about...far away countries... I realized that one cannot own a "ranch/farm" and be an avid traveller too. I'd have to choose betwixt the two. On the one hand, travelling provides opportunities to understand other cultures, other people and why they are the way they are. It is a fantastic way to explore the world and all it's beauty. On the other hand, I love to be home...in my little world. Away from the cares of the world. I love to garden. It gives me peace...time to ponder...time to reflect. I've always had small gardens... mostly whimsical jaunts, providing an immeasurable amount of tomatoes and squash, and a few tid-bits of other things. I've learned how to can, freeze and preserve all sorts of things....giving me a taste of the pleasure in accomplishing something so wonderful. I have often dreamt of growing a garden large enough to provide our vegetables for at least our winter months.

We have begun our little seedlings for this year's little garden....and it feels great to see leafy, little, green heads pushing through the rich, earthy dirt. I love to see my children find the same excitement in selecting, producing, and harvesting their own little gardens.

“The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.” ~~Hanna Rion