Gardening Help Coming Up in January/Early February

Dear Folks,

It is gratifying to me to see stories on the "growing" interest in backyard (or front yard) gardening with edibles.  Yeah Folks!  Coming up I'm hosting a SEED SHARE and conducting 2 classes to help desert gardeners get a jump start on seasonal gardening.  See the link below to my google irregular newsletter with details on the activities.  Seed share in Mesa, 1 class in Phoenix and 1 class in Far East Valley.

I don't know the artist behind this great poster (if anyone does I certainly want to give credit), but I truly love the message.  If there was ever a time to keep some calmness and perspective in our lives it is now.

I'm sure I am not alone in heading out to the garden when it is a bad day or bad news shocks me.  If I do nothing but stand out there where things are growing it comforts me.  To get my hands dirty putting in new seeds or starting new plants (I just put my potatoes in their beds) I can keep one form of the cycle of life thriving or at least trying to thrive.

And when I harvest I can make a meal, share with my darling and neighbors and feel satisfied that some of the basic elements of life are ongoing, despite frustration with ... (fill in the blank).

So here is my recipe for going forward:
1 big helping of family (including extended family of friends)
1 really large portion of respect and tolerance
A goodly amount of using things around you
A dose of caring about others

Mix well and be creative (we are all creative, some of us are traditional and some of us (me) are not).

And above all Keep Calm and Garden On!

If you do not (yet) have a garden of your own there are several areas in the Valley that are truly rejuvenating to visit:  Desert Botanical Garden, Reparian Preserve in Gilbert and Boyce Thompson Arboretum.


Seed Share and Classes

"Time Spent In the Garden, Does Not Reduce Our Allotted Time On Earth." -- Catherine, The Herb Lady