Finally, after many many years of liking the idea of growing my own vegetables, I have taken action at last.  For almost 4 years now I’ve had this great raised-bed organic gardening site complete with pond for watering available to me within easy walking distance, but I’d lacked the time or energy or motivation to delve into it.  It was previously used as a community garden, but for various reasons folks stopped using it.  I mentioned to my neighbors recently that I wanted to garden this year and would appreciate any guidance or aid from those with experience with whom I could share the harvest, and I got some takers.  I feel so, so grateful that I have the time and the energy and the motivation to do this!  It feels so good to just feel so good! 

My neighbor JB grew up doing extensive organic gardening and has been passing on to me valuable tips and pointers.  Yesterday he and RK brought up a very stout rototiller machine and both men lent some of their GREATLY appreciated higher muscle mass to tilling the highly overgrown beds.  We tag-team tilled for most of the day – okay, so they tilled a lot longer than I did per turn, but I did give it my smaller all – and we managed to get both of the two good-sized beds thoroughly tilled!  Then I raked the beds and planted my very first crops yesterday and today.  I am very excited, and I am hopeful that at least some of the veggies will deliver a bountiful harvest in this my first year’s gardening attempt, enough for critters and for people!

Here are three action shots of us tilling: first JB then RK then me, followed by a shot of the first finished bed.

Things in my life have been more hectic than I like in the last few
weeks, but hectic with mostly good things, and I am very grateful to be feeling really really well recently! 
My energy and mood are steady and rising.  The weather here lately has been cold and cloudy, but the coming of spring
marches on regardless.  Every day I walk my trails and I am amazed by the tremendous
changes nature can manifest in a mere 24 hours.  New wildflowers are
popping up every day, and buds on the trees are gradually unfolding
from their protective but constricting embrace, breathing and stretching and
growing and transforming in the open air toward full glory.  I feel in many ways like I am finally doing the same and it feels so delicious!  I have been taking pictures like a madwoman possessed by awe at the beauty and miracles of nature, but haven’t gotten to the more mundane uploading step yet despite my best intentions.  All in good time.