Let's Get Dirty

“Gardening is the purest of human pleasures.” – Francis Bacon I blackmailed the boys into helping me with some yard work yesterday. rnThe conversation was short, one-sided and went something like this: “If you expect to have any of your friends over to the house this summer, you need to come out and help me now. This is not a negotiation. It is a one-time offer and it will not be repeated.” rnI am aware that blackmail is frowned upon in conscious parenting circles, but I am too pleased with the results to be appropriately concerned. The yard looks great. rnAnd the boys didn’t suffer unduly, once they got into the swing of things. rnI find there is something very restorative about getting down in the dirt to pull weeds, or rake up old dead leaves. All that rooting around makes me feel grounded. I am one with the Earth. rnWhile they may not particularly enjoy yard work, children do seem to feel this connection instinctively. They don’t worry about bugs or pollen or animal droppings. They run outside in their bare feet and then joyfully drag their dirt back into the house with them. rnAnd share it with me, in their laundry. They also, for some unknown reason, like to run around the yard, kicking a soccer ball through the mud while wearing white socks with no shoes. What’s up with that? rnAnyhoo. rnToday I went to the garden store to buy some tomato plants and potted herbs. I should point out that I am by no stretch of the imagination a gardener. However, last summer, when I was having an unguarded, earthy-crunchy moment, I decided it would be wonderful to grow some of our own food. rnVery sustainable of us, don’t you think? And kids do tend to eat vegetables more happily, when they are fresh picked from their own garden. At least, mine do. rnAs it turned out, our vegetable-growing efforts were only moderately successful. We did immensely enjoy the twelve cherry tomatoes and two mini-squashes that our garden produced for us, but we were, shall we say, hoping for more. rnI wasn’t really planning to try again this year. It just felt like an awful lot of work, for mediocre results. But after yesterday’s experience, the dirt was calling me. “Try again. There are hundreds of tomatoes in your future. Just try. One. More. Time.” rnOkay, maybe the dirt didn’t speak to me directly. Perhaps it was all in my head. Still, I was convinced. rnSo, I went to the garden store and bought tomato plants. And zucchini, because I think it will somehow grow more successfully than last year’s yellow squash. And parsley, cilantro, basil and lavender. All the herbs I know how to actually use. rnAnd one tiny little succulent called “Key Lime Pie,” to plant in the tiny pot that my younger son painted for me at school last year. rnAnd some annuals, because I like lots of colorful flowers on my porch. rnI loaded all these dirt-dripping peat pots into the back of my car and brought them home. I carried them all out behind the house, to the patio. I found safe spots for each of them to rest, with some sun but not too much sun. rnI went swimming in the pool. ... rnIt turns out that visiting the garden store, browsing the plants and selecting my purchases was enough dirt therapy for today. rnI am loving the look of all those little peat pots, positioned strategically on the patio. Yup, I’m feeling pretty close to the Earth right now. rnPerhaps I will want to be closer tomorrow. A Conscious Parenting Tip: rnI invite you to take your family outside today. Have a picnic, go for a hike, or plant a garden. Take your shoes off and walk barefoot in the grass. Fly a kite. rnSee the Earth through your children’s eyes. Get a little dirty. Enjoy! Try Something Yummy: rnHere is a great reason to grow your own parsley – I learned how to make this smoothie at our local health food store. Peel one mango. Remove the pit and cut up the fruit into your blender. Add about one cup of fresh parsley, one half cup of water and two ice cubes. Blend ‘til smooth. Tastes great! Related Posts: rnUpon reflection, I have written about dirt before. Please check out, Teach Your Children to Un-plug for Earth Day and How Do You Know When It’s Spring?