Raised Bed Garden, Square Foot Gardening, Recycling

Used tires bring together the concept of raised bed gardening as well as the maximizing plan of square foot gardening, plus it addresses the problem of what to do with an old tire, and as I've discovered, it saves $2.00 on the disposal fee. Why fill up landfills with tires, when I can fill the tires with "land" and have square foot, raised gardens all over the place? That's how I'm planting strawberries, zucchini, cucumbers, and whatever else comes to mind. Of course, I'm planting in the ground, also. As a matter of fact, I can hardly get blogs posted for being outdoors these days. Today was beautiful, over 70 and busy, so I couldn't wait to get into the garden and get the rest of it tilled up. I'm going through my seeds tonight and tomorrow, it will be official! The beginning of the 2012 Garden will be in the ground. Actually, I'm a little over a week late, but we've been blessed with a few rainy nights and it's been too muddy to till until today. As a matter of fact, there were still a few places the wheels sank, but it looks wonderful! Now, tomorrow, out to the garden with my specially chosen heirloom seeds of sugar snap peas, radishes and a variety of leafy greens. G-d willing, the salad fixin's will be ready by the first of April. But back to my tires. This tire gardening really does appear to be the best of both space saving and back saving garden ideas. I've even planted fruit trees in the tires. Now that was a bit more work, in that I also had to dig a hole in the ground, but I can just see the extra mulch around them already and I'm planning on strawberries around them. By having the tire, the strawberries should get plenty of nutrients from the top soil and straw in the tires and the fruit trees will actually spread their roots deep into the ground soil, but the tires full of soil really give these young trees extra support as they get established. This isn't just about utilizing the land, but it's also about preserving other land from being trash heaps. Tires that are filled with straw and soil to produce something of value seems a far better purpose than filling a landfill.
When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless Y-H-W-H thy G-d for the good land which he hath given thee.

More Preparation to Be Ready

I was just speaking to a friend about the things we are doing to "be ready." I told her, I truly want to be as ready as I used to think I was, already. I did get the trees planted and we've been blessed to receive a number of soft gentle rains this past week. HalleluYah! I've also sown the bedding plants for the garden and G-d willing, I'm in step with HIS plan and provision in this matter. I planted one "tray" of seeds, but then became convicted that others may find themselves in need of bedding plants, but are not yet in a position to be able to do that or even know they need to. Perhaps, it won't be the bedding plants that are needed, but the actual produce itself . . . At any rate, a couple of hours on a rainy afternoon, a couple dollars' worth of heirloom seeds in 50 cents of dirt is a small investment in what could potentially be a big return to feed many! So many of us have forgotten what G-d created and gifted us to do. Of course, as I sit here writing about the planting I've done, I'm also very aware that I have been created to plant spiritual seeds as well, and so I will do that as well. It's time to enlarge and expand the coverage. Talking accomplishes so little, and something else that has become quite clear, accomplishment of G-d's plan actually takes so little, on my part. HE has the plan, HE has the provision, HE gives me the time and the strength. All it takes from me, is my willingness to set my heart and hand to the task. So, today, although there has been more preparation accomplished, I now know, there is still more to be done, and G-d has blessed me with the strength, and the wisdom to accomplish HIS purpose and further prepare for those that will be coming to this preservation.
Commit thy works unto YHWH, and thy thoughts shall be established. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Vision and Preparation

Probably what truly makes people of the preservation different than mainstream society, is their vision for the future. People of the preservation are very legacy minded. As our society becomes more and more focused on instant gratification and entitlements, some of us are "paying in" for the next generation, as well our own and the previous one. But in this case, "paying in" isn't financial, it's making preparation that the next generation can be sustained. There may be a time when money doesn't buy anything a person needs. Scripture is quite clear in regard to a specific cost of buying and selling; at some point the cost will be one's soul. So, preparing for the next generation's needs, and the generation after that, seems pertinent. Monday, I'm planting fruit trees. Oh, I've planted a few along the way in life, but this time, I'm planting a small orchard. There's an old saying, or witticism, or something that states, people don't plant trees for themselves, they plant them for the next generation, and I believe this is the privilege of the "elders." I believe it's the most stable gift I can leave my grandchildren. Oh, if I have any money left when I'm gone, they can have it, but who's to say it will have any value . . . And they can have my "stuff," and I'm sure there will be sentimental attachment and wonderful memories associated with some of my "stuff," but it will still only be "stuff." Trees on the land, fruit trees, will be perpetual, G-d willing and that's a "paying in" I enjoy. I'll be planting my fruit trees this coming Tuesday. Tuesday is specifically significant, in that according to the Hebrew calendar, the 15th day of the 11th month marks the day in which the sap begins running the other direction in the tree. The dormancy ends as spring approaches. At this same time, I'll also be starting my plants that need to be set out rather than sown, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, etc. I'm amazed at the number of places potting soil and seedling beds are now available. Vision and preparation are not about geography. Vision and preparation are a matter of the heart. Preparation for the next generation can and should be in the heart of every child of G-d that is blessed to be a parent and/or grandparent . . .
Lo, children are an heritage of YHWH: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Holy Scripture