I can add sunflower seeds to the list of things I now know how to “make.” We grew half a dozen giant sunflowers and the blooms are currently drying. I’ll roast the seeds this weekend and I imagine cover some of them in dark chocolate for a certain someone I know who loves such a treat. Not surprisingly, I underestimated the garden’s abilities. I could have planted twice as many tomato plants and three times as many sunflowers. Gardening, like fly fishing and knitting, is an exercise in patience. You have to observe, practice, observe, practice a little more and then maybe you have a glimpse of what it takes to be successful.
After spending time away, it is nice to come home and get caught up on the little things. The sewing machine is roaring — putting to use those gorgeous fabrics from Fancy Tiger — and the garden is ready for a new planting. One of my permaculture friends mentioned a failed pumpkin crop isn’t a failure until October. You can replant pumpkins in August. I’m going to do just that this weekend and see how things roll. Spending time outside with my hands in the dirt is as joyful as having my hands sticky with kneaded bread or raw from knitting rough wool into something useful.
If you are looking for something useful to do this weekend, please consider supporting Jessica’s work in Brazil. I’ve known Jessica for several years and can tell you she is single-handedly changing the well-being of extremely poor communities in this country. She brings the adage of “be the change you want to see in the world” to life.
~K