Braving The Rain

A Subaru full of gorgeous plants + rain gear.

This weekend, we had our first big rain in a while. We even had some thunder and hail - a rarity in Boise! On Saturday, I picked up a huge order of plants from Next Generation Organics and planted out two of the four beds in a brand new garden that my clients (and friends) have been working diligently on. While we worked, we talked about the comments people have made to this new gardener throughout this process.

“That’s a lot of garden. Are you ready for that much food? It’s going to be a lot of work.”

“Should you even be planting yet? There’s still snow on Shafer Butte!”

This garden is pretty big (only half is pictured) but when we work together, we can accomplish huge things.

I can’t blame these people for being a bit judgmental. The garden industry sets up a lot of contradictory rules aimed at shaming you into purchasing more products. The industry tells you when to plant, when to stop planting, and ultimately, how to buy more products to solve your problems in the garden. All of this chatter results in a lot of gardeners losing their confidence, questioning their instincts and relying on the garden industry to tell them how to grow. It even happens to me!

I’m here today to tell you that there are no rules in gardening. Gardening relies on weather: sun, rain, wind. There are no rules in weather. Gardening relies on soil: worms, insects, roots, weeds. There are no rules in soil. In gardening, there is only trial and error. There is only endless experimentation.

Experimentation = Joy

If you’re excited to plant your tomatoes right now, and are diligent about covering them or watching the weather the next few weeks, go right for it. Take good notes. Personally, I won’t be planting my tomatoes until after Mother’s Day. That’s because I have too much good stuff already growing in my garden beds. For me, all foods have a season, and I’m happy to wait and enjoy the season I’m in.

I started this business to grow confidence in other kitchen gardeners, and the only way we can do that is by getting in our reps. In gardening, that means plant, observe, harvest and plant again. When people ask me if they can plant this or that at a certain time or in a certain space, I tell them to try it. Trust your instincts, and if it doesn’t work, then you learned and can do better next time.

While I’ve been growing food a long time, I don’t pretend to have all the answers, and I don’t trust people who act like that. Don’t let the garden industry or the people in your life who subscribe to their marketing schemes make you question your instincts or the season you’re in.

These garden helpers never let a little rain dampen their fun

Gardening takes courage. It’s a radical act to grow some of your own food. You’re taking your brain back from the marketing schemes of the large-scale food industry and rediscovering your connection to food. You’re reconnecting to the earth and its various systems. This process takes time, and some plants will die, but if you plant when you’re ready and keep on planting, you will grow not only food, but you will grow your confidence and your identity as a being on this earth. There are no rules in nature. There are seasons of struggle and of success. As long as you grow with this in mind, you’ll find connection, joy and confidence to plant again.

There she is - planted and ready to grow!

If you’re ready to start a garden now, great. If you’re just not ready, it’s never too late. Yes, materials and labor are in short supply and things will take longer if you wait, but if you’re not on a strict timeline, then your garden journey will begin whenever you are ready for it. I’ll be here for you when you’re ready, and I hope you’ll let me help. If something is holding you back, send me an email and we can talk through it together.