Gardening During the Pandemic - by Pat Lee, COTW Founder and Director of International Programs
Gardening can be so much fun for you and your children. Planting seeds, watching them sprout and grow will excite children and adults as well. It is great for your morale and keeps your mind off all of the craziness around us.
During WWI & II American’s were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens. A century later “Pandemic Gardens” are bringing families together again. In WWI there was not only a war, but also an influenza pandemic as well. Families then and now were fearful about a disruption in food supplies. The economy was down and people were concerned about their future. Feels familiar, doesn’t it?
Growing your own food - no matter if it is in a small plot in your backyard, in buckets or a large area - can bring you so much joy, good nutrition, and yummy fresh food!
When my first group of children were young, Jim always planted a big garden at his mom’s house. We had tons of food all summer and I loved it. I could put food in our freezer and made pickles, jams and jelly. I even canned beans and squash. It was a big money saver for our big and growing family. When our two children arrived from Vietnam in 1975 they had never grown anything and were thrilled to garden. My older children were not so thrilled with all the hoeing and weed pulling. By the time my last three girls came home from India and Korea, Jim had moved our garden to our side yard . Although it was much smaller, it was easier to handle and take care of in our own yard. After Jim passed away, I still had my garden, but just in flower beds and in buckets. I had tons of tomatoes, egg plant, cucumbers, various peppers , squash and basil. Jim had always followed the Farmers Almanac and it proved always to be right. No matter how much I encourage him to plant early, he never planted until Good Friday.
In the early 80’s I was working in the jungle area of Bolivia. There were so many orphans there. 7 out of 10 children were dying due to malnutrition and disease. I was working with Villa Fatima, a home for small children, and Centro, an older boys home . Centro was very overcrowded and this was a very poor area. So many children were orphaned due to the drug issues there. Many of the fathers had gone to the cocoa fields to work and became addicted to cocaine. The mothers could not take care of them so they ended up in Centro or Villa Fatima. (It was during this time that I was investigated for drug trafficking … But, I’ll save that part for the my book I’m writing)
There was never enough food for all of those hungry boys and small children . One morning I was there to bring supplies and I noticed a large sunny area that could be perfect for a garden. I got permission from the director and we began buying hoes, shovels and seed. The boys were so excited. It seemed to give them purpose and they anxiously weeded, watered and watched as our garden grew. Several months later, when I returned, they were so excited to show me the beautiful corn , beans, squash and other things that were ready to be harvested . It was so successful that they asked if we could provide a freezer. We bought a large one and the ladies learned how to preserve the veggies. Something so simple and so inexpensive made such a difference. Thank you Jesus! I have not been back in many years. But by the grace of God we were able to bring Several of these older boys home to their forever families. Each one has an amazing story. To God be the Glory
Today I have a raised garden. When I moved to my new house, I was concerned about where and how I could have a garden. My daughter, Terri, helped me find a good sunny area. You need to have good sunshine for at least six hours a day. Since I have broken my hip I cannot get up and down so easily. My son in law, Ray Lane, designed and built me a raised bed. It is 4x6 in size and 32 inches tall - so that I do not have to bend down. It’s perfect! He put a liner in first and then really good soil from Old Tyme Feed. Good soil in the key when putting a garden. Terri bought the small plants from Old Tyme Feed as well (so we knew they were healthy). I planted them 12 inches apart. I planted flower seed there as well ( sunflower and giant zinnia). They grew so quickly that I had to move them to flower pots.
I use Miracle Grow Tomato fertilizer ( dry that I mix with water) I fertilize one time a week. I use Miracle Grow for my flowers as well .
My great grand children, Parker and Maggie love gardening and send me pictures as they watch their veggies grow. I get updates each weeks on how many tomatoes and squash they now have. Evie , Mary Beth’s youngest, (adopted from Pune India) is quite the gardener as well. She and Abby also have their garden in pots and they are thriving as well. They just picked their squash today and will cook tonight. I get weekly updates on their veggies with pictures..
Children love to plant seeds and watch them grow. It also serves as a conversation starter which can be so important when you are closed up together. Being stuck inside on a computer or other screens all the time can make you anxious . Getting outside and having your hands in the dirt just feels right and is healing. If you haven’t done this, please try it.
Here is a recap of my top planting tips:
Choose the right “plot”
Plant in a sunny location with at least six hours of direct sunlight
Plant in well drained soil
Plant in stable area away from strong wind or possible flooding
2. Choosing what to plant
Start small, and only grow what you will eat or give away.
Plant things your family likes to eat.
Check to make sure you know what grows best in your region! ….. which leads me to….
3. Top supplies to purchase
Purchase a Farmer’s Almanac
Purchase good quality soil
Purchase good quality plants or seeds
And don’t forget to fertilize on a regular basis!
God continues to pour out His blessings on each of us , enjoy this time with your children it is precious time. I would love to see your gardens.
“Sending much love to all of our families
Happy Gardening!
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