Digging In The Dirt

Many of my passions I get through my family. From my father, I got the love of horses, animals, country life. From my Mom, the love of children, family. From my Grandma Sadie, the love of outdoors, fishing and adventure. From my Grandma Mattie, the love of gardening. Many of these passions have helped heal me through heartbreak.

My second divorce was when I bought my 5 grafted apple tree. It looked like a dead stick when it arrived off the UPS truck. However, my 3 children and I were delighted with the hope of what it would bring. We planted it together and said a special prayer of how we're united and we would survive as sure as that apple tree will. Now many years later, my children all grown and with kids of their own, the apple tree is the size of a standard tree. Every year it stands tall loaded with apples for our picking. I can tell at least 3 varieties out of the 5 on it. It is a beautiful apple tree and the only one on my family farm.

Our garden at SherDen Farm is exciting to me. I love the fresh smell of tilled Spring soil, that earthy smell. I love getting dirty and hands on with the seeds and plants. The wonder of those little seeds spourting and turning into amazing things, shapes, colors. Then the reward comes, the fresh, crisp, yummy veggies and fruits. The fun of picking and plucking when they are ripe. Also digging in my flower beds and thinning out plants, I enjoy.

I feel a primal need to make something thrive after something precious is lost. We may never get over losing those we love, but we can navigate through it.

Try digging in the dirt.