My joy in gardening - the short version

I used to have horses. Having horses is a rich man's hobby. For me it was a non-rich person's passion.

Four or five years ago, they got old, and did what old horses do. I didn't have the financial resources to keep going, and by that point, the joy was largely about my love for those two animals - I was ready for the journey to end.

BUT, I was PETRIFIED, because horses had taken all of my time, energy and money. What was I going to do to have an interest/hobby/new passion? So I planted a flower....

Well, I just checked my tomaotes that I sowed the past Tuesday, the 16th - and another one has sprouted!! I had such a burst of joy seeing the little seedling with the little seed case still hanging on - my heart is full!

A very sad tail (pun intended) but with a great happy ending Im a gamer by hobby but it takes up alot of my time and can sometimes be frustrating so i turned to gardening for relaxation and a sense of accomplishment not to mention the food is healthier lol

I'm glad to hear your toms are beginning. Its a little too early for my toms to be started here in Maine.
You'll have to post pics so we can all grow green with envy.
Something has to be green around here in the northeast. LOL
Enjoy.

I think of him now and again, Smokey Rebel, a sorrel gelding.
Its hard to lose our furbabies, no thow large they are.

martha wrote:I had such a burst of joy seeing the little seedling with the little seed case still hanging on - my heart is full!

Hope floats!

Oh, how the heart yearns...Like Martha, we too had horses, four, plus the cutest little chocolate palomino pony ever. We worked on two different nearby ranches owned by friends to have a place to keep them and ride. Daybreak with the horses is fantastic.

Then one day we received a life-altering phone call, and by end of day had two very young grandsons at our doorstep, welcomed with open arms! But it quickly became obvious that the time and attention needed by those wonderful boys was equal to (and greater than) the time we'd been spending on the ranches with the horses.

So we made the right choice and kept the boys. Some have asked why we didn't keep both boys and horses...but like Martha said, "financial resources" meant one or the other, not both.

Now the boys are older, more self-sufficient and self-entertaining, and this Nana has a little more free time. Actually, has a need for some little project or hobby to sooth the soul. My grandsons Home School library had a book about 'square foot gardening'. I'd never heard of it before, but my fancy was caught, and under the guise of needing a home schooling project, our little garden was created with whatever we could find, and enlarged on a bit as the summer progressed.

Now it's our second year at SFGing. There will be a bigger variety of vegetables and melons. As an experiment, we've started 99% of our own transplants this year. The boys help me plant and water, my Handsome Husband has provided some additional building materials for another large bed, and we will all enjoy the harvest again this year.

I still yearn for horses, but I've got a pretty good thing going on right in my own back yard.

It's amazing how gardening heals the soul. Two of my neighbours died within a day of each other. One funeral is this morning and the other tomorrow. I spent all of yesterday in the gardens (SFG, lasagna, and flowers). I just had to dig in the dirt. Soil/ dirt also absorbs tears very well. I planted a honeysuckle vine in memory of one neighbour and a maypop in the memory of the other. Gardening is just so healing.

Amen.

We churn the soil to grow our meal,
yet while we toil our souls do heal.

Its funny how gardening can help us over the hurdles of life.
When I lost my husband 6 yrs ago, I built an in-law apt in my son's home (at his wife's urging...she's a darling, special lady), where he had over 6 acres, mostly woods, in the country. Right after moving in the furniture, I was out in the yard building a perennial garden. That kept me so busy the spells of grief were easier to handle. I will always be grateful for that first garden.
Now I have my 2nd one, the SFG that I began last spring. I love it. There's always a new challenge, but less hard work after the first year, so its keeping me outside and giving me exercise and keeping the old brain humming in good shape. The challenges continue.
With young children to teach and learn, it must be extra wonderful.
I know the grandchildren will be learning things that will take them thru their lifetime and the added bonus is the fresh and tasty food on the table.
Keep up the good work.

I am getting a lot from everyone's stories - thank you!

Gardening can be so rewarding, and SFGing is the greatest way to garden! I'm so glad you are here to share your experience with everyone!

aawww... It's a sad but motivating story. Indeed you must move on from a lost of a love one. In your case it's a horse. But even thought others might consider them just a animal but for you they were special. It's good that you are taking consideration on gardening. Best of luck in your new hobby.