As with all projects, this year’s (first) garden at a new home started with inspiration, followed by much effort. You could lose your enjoyment in this effort if you don’t take the time to notice the beauty of it. Gardening, often mired with its many redundant tasks and frequent disappointments brought on by crops lost to pests, lousy planning, or any number of potential misfortunes, also offers countless opportunities to appreciate small moments of pleasure when time is taken to notice them; taking in the beauty of some mysterious tiny fungi, enjoying a wonderful mingling of aromas or savoring the cool feeling of dew on the morning leaves as you go about your daily inspections.

This year, we started with no garden at all. With the help of ASD, we slowly transformed a giant and ancient burn pile that had never actually been burned and was home to the most impressive 25-foot pokeweed trees into a small but wonderful garden plot. Our family worked together, and part of the small pleasures of doing so included gradually coming to understand each child’s interests. My oldest daughter loves to spend time actually working with me in the garden, which gives me unique times of connection with her, working side by side and enjoying each other’s company.  My youngest loves to come into the garden for short visits, asking enthusiastically what each plant is and commenting on the beauty of a flower or the wonderful smell of basil, or mentioning how much she dislikes tomatoes, commenting on why on earth we have so many of them. As quickly as she comes, she’s gone, off like the wind to marvel at something else or laugh at a playful nearby cat.

One of my favorite little enjoyments comes in the morning when I walk each row with the watering hose. I take the time to pull out small sprouting grasses and “weeds”(?) often wondering if this was something I planted. During this time, I walk with a watering spigot in one hand, exploring the underside of a nearby tomato leaf with the other while admiring the small blooms and breathing in the fresh, clean air. With this, I conclude my post, reminding you again to take the time to enjoy the little things.

Written by Kristian Woodall of Kingsport, TN