The Allotment Disaster

Some months ago, I blogged about my plans to start gardening, with the intentions of growing at home and also at the local allotment.  I started growing a few things at home and everything seemed to be going well until I visited the allotment and beheld this sight....

Weeds! Nothing but weeds, and their roots run deep! I think that day we realised just how much work needs to be done here before we can even consider planting any seeds! We need to uproot the weeds, restore the soil and also work on the paths around the beds to stop our weeds from getting into other peoples’ gardens.  That day I realised just how much damage can be caused from a few months of neglect and how hard and time consuming it will be to restore it back.  The whole allotment situation reminded me of Ezekiel 37. When Ezekiel was in vision and he beheld a valley of dry dead bones, he was asked if the bones can live, to which he responded “O Lord God thou Knowest”  (Ezekiel 37:3). To me this garden looked like a lost cause.

Later that day, I thought about the condition of the allotment and the amount of work that needs to be done and it caused me to look at my own heart. I know that there are many areas in my life that need to be worked on and it definitely feels like a “big job”! Sometimes I feel like I am wearing God’s patience thin, but at the same time he daily gives me tokens and evidences of the renewing work of Christ in my life.  Yes, it definitely feels like a big job and sometimes a hopeless cause, but I know that my God never slumbers nor sleeps. He longs to see the heart renewed, and the work that he has begun in all of us, he is faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6), if we do our part and cooperate with him. 

So we will press forward with the work that needs to be done at the allotment, even if it means we don’t get to plant there this year. We will work hard to restore things back to the way they should be, not by power, nor by might but by his spirit! (Zechariah 4:6)

Lord, please help us to restore this garden even as you restore our hearts…

Love, your girl forever

♥ Miss Daisy ♥

P.S things are growing really well at home, I will post some pictures soon xxx

Springtime and seedlings

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over [and] gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing [of birds] is come… 

Songs of Solomon 2:11-12

Yes, spring time has arrived which means growing session has begun in the UK! I'm so excited as this is my first time starting a garden on my own. I know it won't be completely perfect and I will make some mistakes but I know there's going to be lots to learn and experience. 

Starting out

I will be growing some food at home and also at the 7 years plenty allotment nearby. (we've called it that it actually has a completely different name hehe!). This year I will attempt to grow:

Romain lettuce

Spinach 

Swiss Card

Carrots

Potatoes 

Beetroot 

Bell peppers

Tomatoes

Onions 

Garlic

Strawberries 

Coriander 

Mint

Basil 

Rosemary 

Thyme 

It may seem like I'm growing way too much as a first time gardener, but believe me, these are actually my staples! Except Strawberries, I love them but I find they are expensive to buy and spoil very quickly so I want to see if it's more cost effective to grow them. I won't be growing in huge quantities but I want to see what things work and what things don't. 

For those of you who are wondering why I am growing food, I think growing your own food is healthier, cheaper and more rewarding! Gardening itself is very good for your physical health as it is very hands on and our bodies benefit from the physical exercise, fresh air and being in nature.  In addition to the physical benefits, it also has spiritual benefits.  The bible often talks about agriculture and uses it as an illustration of our growth in Christ, our reception of his word etc. He uses the natural to illustrate the spiritual (1 Corinthians 15).I'm excited to see how gardening will impact my walk with God, and I'm looking forward to all the object lessons I will learn as I turn the soil, water plants, weed the garden, plant seeds, harvest crops etc . I'm longing to see how he will break up the fallow ground and cultivate the garden beds of my own heart. 

I hope to keep you updated on how the garden is going and to share some of the different things I am learning, both the natural and spiritual, so please stay tuned.

Please feel free to share any of your gardening tips with this first time gardener :-)

First seedlings tray

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat…Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places…

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Love, your girl forever

♥ Miss Daisy ♥