#accidentalgardener

[mybipolarbully]

Photos of my second garden ever! We built some makeshift raised beds, put up a greenhouse & I started some seeds for the first time in my life. This kind of stuff brings me joy, and I just had to share!

[randichervitz]

Uh oh. The fall harvest begins... 🍎🍐🍯🍆 #accidentalfarmer #accidentalorganic #accidentalgardener #butternutsquash #autumn #autumncolors #autumnvibes🍁 #squash #organicgarden #compost #compostmiracles #homegrown #kirkwoodgardens handmadewithlove #artist #instaartist #artistic #artistoninstagram #artistsoninstagram #artistofinstagram #artistsofinstagram #artists #makersgonnamake #shopsmallbusiness #gemstonejewelry #gemstones #gemstone #shopsmall #shoponline #shoplocal #shop https://www.instagram.com/p/CFw9Wlajf4X/?igshid=pfdyhaffycnm

[mybipolarbully]

The Accidental Gardener

I would like to share what I have been doing in place of employment. Mostly because it has made more of an impact on me in a short period of time than any job ever has.

I started a Memorial Garden in late May to commemorate my parents, my Dad being the last to go in March of this year. The garden started out simply with some starter sunflowers, petunias, and morning glories. There is also a dwarf rose bush and cockscomb on the side. I have added crosses with each of their names, and we have all decorated it with colorful rocks, wind chimes and pinwheels, and hopefully everyone in the family will contribute to it.

And then came along the spur-of-the-moment vegetables. I was given a fabulous gift of two tomato plant starts, two bell pepper starts, and some marigolds. I have never been able to grow a house plant, let alone veggies. But I was determined to prove myself wrong. Because I feel this land is blessed by my Dad’s hand, these veggies and flowers are thriving. All of them! Blackberry bushes that Dad planted years ago are now picked by my hands every day, and I’m actually making a little cash by selling them.

Getting up every single day to water the garden, to pull weeds and to pick berries gives me a reason to get up and out of that bed. For once in a very long time, I feel important! And it has nothing to do with making money. It has everything to do with finding purpose. Those little plants depend on me every day to care for them. They need water and sun and air to keep thriving, and I am putting myself into that task 100%.

The mental health benefits I have gleaned do not even compare to the myriads of medicines or hours of therapy I have been through in my lifetime. I am touching the things of Earth: the soil through my fingertips, the cool wetness of dewdrops across the top of my feet, the smell of rain shower, the shade of the trees and the whispering winds through them, buzzing bees, the blackberry stains on my fingertips, and the first blush on my first tomato. These wonderful things bring such warmth to my soul, and have amazing healing properties.

I am an accidental gardener, yes. But I think that gardener was in there all along. I just needed to actually experience seeing growth for the first time to realize that. Mental health is very much the same way! We don’t always know when we are growing and healing, but that doesn’t mean we are not. We can also be pleasantly surprised by the wisdom found in some of the more “happy accidents”. (Thanks, Bob Ross❤️)

[picturingjuj]

I found some garlic scapes in the yard, but of course I cut all of them for photo fodder (and grilling) so now I won’t remember where the garlic is 🙄 #accidentalgardener https://www.instagram.com/p/CBMdJupHLrY/?igshid=odtkhbcld2c2

[designsbyalison]

October 7 and most of the garden is lush. It’s hard to part with. 🌿Some things have already left me and my last two melons went to feeding the neighborhood wildlife.🐿 My peppers are extraordinarily late bloomers I may keep them to the very last minute. They worked very hard to grasp sun from around so many rambling vines. And of course, an endless supply of tomatillos will bring fresh salsa and canning throughout the remainder of 2018. I have saved seeds from all species and am already planning next year. 🍁🌾🍁. #designsbyalison #inthegarden #autumn #autumngarden #accidentalgardener #urbangarden #homegarden #saveyourseeds #seedsavers #seedsaving #sundaymorning #lovewhatyoudo #homestead #quietmoments (at Morton Grove, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/Booi0rFhO1s/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=w6y3oome2h97

[designsbyalison]

Stepping out of my studio for only a brief minute because Halloween is in full swing. DID YOU KNOW that coleus makes a great cut flower? 🤗This was cut 9/22. And even more fun....it’s rooting. 🌱And I am rooting for it. #designsbyalison #accidentalgardener #outofthestudio #cutflowers #coleus #houseplant #loveeverything #littlesurprises #halloweencostumes #rooting #roots (at Morton Grove, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/BohEOTQBeqB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ivlbpxdbd58

[designsbyalison]

Order and chaos and texture and color and beauty....right from my own backyard. #designsbyalison #inthegarden #accidentalgardener #endofsummer #cantelope #melon #fruity #organicmelon #saveyourseeds #seedsaving #wecantlopewhatwouldourparentssay #🍈 #mogro #aroundchicago #lovewhatyoudo (at Morton Grove, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnrgJXvBjhR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vvsi2qpm89rh

[coletonthomson]

Noting that we did not even plant #dill in our #yycgarden this year, we seem to have a lot of it. #colehearted #kitchenbasics #stockingupforwinter #freshherbs #herbdrying #accidentalgardener (at Bankview, Calgary)