Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Sod Busting For the Soul

A bit more garden patch.

Playing in the dirt is good for the soul. So is gardening. I'm combining the two and making my garden patch a wee bit bigger this year. This means digging up some lawn and busting clumps of grass- tight soil.
It's fun.
Maybe fun isn't the right word. It's makes me feel good to do it. It's easy to see that something's being accomplished, it's good, physical labour, and it leaves my mind free.
I opened up a patch that's maybe three feet by four feet on Monday. I'll need to do more, but I wasn't about to do anything that would make my heart all fussy.
Yesterday I started chopping at the great clumps of soil. This is most satisfying.
Thinking pleasant thoughts is no good when you've got a sharp instrument in your hand and you're bent on destruction. Nothing gets done.
Rather than concentrate on any one thing I let my mind go. In fact, I let it so loose I was quite mindless for the whole 45 minutes or so that I was working.
It was wonderful.
I felt the sun and wind and the fresh air. I smelled the good, clean smell of the soil. I saw new life poking out even as I was destroying it.
It was destruction for the ultimate goal of building up, and that's as good a renewal as any.




10 comments:

the Bag Lady said...

Gardening is great for the soul, and the body! Good exercise, and you can eat the fruits of your labour, which is also better for you than buying stuff that's been trucked half way across the continent! Win-win!
(reminds me that I really need to get out and work on my own garden this week!)

Leah J. Utas said...

Yes, it's work you get to eat. The best kind!

messymimi said...

Oh, to have a green thumb!

I am one of those unfortunate mortals who kill everything except the crabgrass.

I have undying admiration for those who garden and grow food for themselves.

Writing Without Periods! said...

This looks like a lot of work, but will bring you pleasure. I have a brown thumb so take a lot of photos so I can enjoy through your blog.
Mary

Leah J. Utas said...

Thank you, Messymimi. It's a small backyard plot that started as a spice garden. I want to put in a few carrots this year along with the peas so that's why I want more space.

Mary, it's good to get out and do something especially after all the computer time. I'll see what I can do about the pics.

Hilary said...

I tend to have a black thumb, so I'll live vicariously through your gardening prowess. I can bust things up pretty well though. ;)

Texas Writer said...

You have a wonderful blog. Beautiful photos and wise words. Thanks for making it available to us.
We had a kitchen garden when I was a kid because, um, no garden meant no dinner. It was a lot of work, but not as much work as canning, which I hated. Gardening, though. That was a good way to spend the mornings. And having spiced peaches, new potatoes and green beans, and corn all winter--ahh, that was very good!

Leah J. Utas said...

"Prowess" is a most generous term, Hilary. I appreciate your faith in my abilities.

Hello Texas Writer and welcome. Thanks for the kind words. We had a huge garden back on the farm I grew up on. It was all good, but the potatoes were magnificent. You're right, it's a lot of work, but it is worth it.

David Cranmer said...

I use to enjoy working in the garden with my dad. I'd love to go back for a visit.

Leah J. Utas said...

David, I'm not sure if you meant travel back in time, but that was what struck me. I'd love to do it, too.