Pallet Gardening: Fail

Foto Fridays

I wish I were a gardener. There's something elegant about putting on gloves and sitting outside in the warm air, tending little plants to life, and then enjoying the fruitful produce.

When we moved into our new home in December, I eagerly began planning a giant garden, hoping my husband would catch the dream. I dropped hints about a greenhouse that Costco was selling - could he make me one? -- checking out books from the library about green house gardening and other plant varieties.

He remained mysteriously quiet about the whole thing.

(He's a VERY wise man!) 

I have a history. I've tried gardening in all 4 previous houses, and he usually ended up mowing them down. They became a haven for weeds. His yard was immaculate, so all the weeds ended up running to my garden for safety.

The one year that I had my daughters plan AND plant the garden, it did well, but later became infested by ants and the produce was ruined. The next year, I didn't touch it, and a dozen tomato plants grew wild - God did a better job of gardening than I did.

So my husband didn't exactly offer any input into my most recent gardening dreams.

Knowing I couldn't possibly dig a garden up by myself, I found pallet gardens online. That was it! So easy... you just spread gardening material down, place a pallet on the ground, fill it with dirt, and plant the vegetables! How hard can that be? No weeds!

For a few weeks, the garden was a success.

And then it stopped raining.

The problem with pallet gardens is that they act like container plants. The only water they get is the water that's given to them. And since I wasn't exactly faithful with my watering, they didn't faithfully grow.

We had a handful of tomatoes, and I occasionally remembered to pick an herb for dinner, but for the most part, it was a waste of time and money.

God has gifted us each individually to do the work He wants for us. Therefore, I'm free to say this carefully planned confession: 

I do not want to can my food.  I do not care about using fresh herbs. I do not like pets of any kind. I flee away from activities that produce adrenaline. I don't know how to bake nor do I care to learn. I don't like reading Thomas the Train books out loud. I do not recycle. I don't enjoy artsy films. I do not dust. I don't fold all of my clothes before I put them in the drawers. I don't like Candy Land, and I cheat so the kids don't go all the way back to the beginning.

And finally:

I do not garden.

And that's ok.

What's in your confession?

For we are God’s workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Ephesians 2:10

When I'm the Peony

Thoughtful Thursdays

Have you ever felt like a transplanted peony?

I do not have a green thumb, but every once in awhile I go out on a limb and try to attempt something garden-ey.

I recently transplanted a peony bush. It was living a wilted, shallow existence in the shade, and I knew a sunnier location would be good for it. Apparently, it disagreed. It looks pathetic, all bent over, without a single petal left on its branches. 

I tried to tell it, “Don’t worry, little flower. I know this is hard on you, but it’s for your good. Sure, you had to leave the safety of the other location, but in time, when you regain your strength, you’ll find it’s really much better here.” But for the peony, I think it feels like death.

With garden hose in hand, I thought, “I am so often the peony.” God moves the puzzle pieces of my life in some way, and He provides me with water and sunshine, and yet I feel pain. But it’s for my good! Can you relate? If we let Him, He’ll restore us again and our faith will be strengthened, growing stronger than ever before.

So I’ll keep watering my little plant, and I'll trust that God is watering me too. What does this look like for you?

Chicken & Squash Skillet

I wanted to use fresh vegetables and herbs from my garden tonight for dinner. My neighbor also shared some of their produce from their garden. Dinner turned out delicious, and I wanted to share it, since I sort of made it up by combining a few recipes.

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Chicken and Squash Skillet

INGREDIENTS

·        1 Cup Brown Rice

·        2 Cups Water

·        1 Can Cream of Celery Soup

·        Chicken, 3 boneless skinless breasts, cut into cubes, or equivalent.

·        2 T Olive Oil

·        Seasoned Salt

·        Salt/Pepper

·        2 tsp Paprika

·        *Fresh Basil, small handful

·        *Chives

·        *Squash/Zucchini, as much as you want. I used one of each

·        Bell Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1.      Boil water for rice. Add Rice, paprika, and soup. Simmer for ½ the time, about 20 minutes, in large skillet.

2.      Meanwhile, in separate skillet, heat oil. Cube chicken, sprinkle with season salt, and add to hot oil. Brown approximately 10 minutes.

3.      Add Chicken to Rice Mixture. Top with chives. Cover and cook 10 minutes.

4.      Add vegetables, basil, and salt/pepper to taste. Simmer covered until rice is done and vegetables are tender.

SALAD:

We served a simple salad w/ *garden lettuce and *cherry tomatoes.

BEVERAGE:

I steeped *mint leaves with *stevia leaves for about 15 minutes and then poured it over ice. Delicious!

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I hope this inspires you! What are you cooking from your gardens?

* Denotes items from our gardens

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