“The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. “
                                                                                                                                                               George Bernard Shaw

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

And Happy New Year. I'm getting lots of positive vibes about 2010. And what a great way to start the new year, commencing on our program of learning to grow healthy, vital, pure and delicious food for ourselves and our families. This week's task is a simple one, to decide what you want to grow in your garden. But before we get into that, I'd like to give you a little introduction to the Angels who are going to accompany us on this adventure.

The angels in the Essene Gospel of Peace are fourteen in number, seven Angels of the Heavenly Father and seven of the Earthly Mother. Together they form the Tree of Life.

And just as the roots of the tree
Sink into the earth and are nourished,
And the branches of the tree
Raise their arms to heaven,
So is man like the trunk of the tree,
With his roots deep
In the breast of his Earthly Mother,
And his soul ascending
To the bright stars of his Heavenly Father.
And the roots of the tree
Are the Angels of the Earthly Mother,
And the branches of the tree
Are the Angels of the Heavenly Father.
And this is the sacred Tree of Life
Which stands in the Sea of Eternity.
                                                                      Essene Gospel of Peace Book Two: page 34

The Angels of the Earthly Mother are: The Angel of Air, the Angel of Water, the Angel of Sun, the Angel of Joy, the Angel of Life, the Angel of Earth and the Angel of the Kingdom of the Earthly Mother.

The Angels of the Heavenly Father are: The Angel of the Kingdom of the Heavenly Father, the Angel of Wisdom, the Angel of Love, the Angel of Power, the Angel of Peace, the Angel of Creative Work and the Angel of Eternal Life.

This week, as we start on this life-enhancing journey, we appeal to the Angel of Life, “she who gives strength and vigor to mankind,” to help us in the planning of our gardens, so we can grow the most vital, healthful, life-sustaining food that we possibly can.

PLANNING YOUR GARDEN

There are three factors to consider when planning what to grow in your garden.

1) What do you and/or your family like to eat?

2) What can you grow most efficiently in the limited space you will be working in?

3) What will your climate permit you to grow?

Since we are in U.S. Growing zones 5 & 6 we will have three overlapping gardens, a spring, a summer and a fall garden. We're going to grow in the winter too, but that's a different process.

In the early spring we can plant peas, broccoli, cabbage, parsley, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, beets, carrots, radishes and Swiss chard. As we harvest the lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard and peas we can replace them with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, squash, basil and melons, for summer and early fall harvest. When the weather starts to get cooler again we can plant lettuce, spinach and chard again and more carrots, beets, broccoli and cauliflower. All of these vegetables will grow well in a small intensive garden such as we will be growing. So what fresh veggies would you like to be crunching into this spring, summer and fall? Think about it and make a list of the seeds you want to order.

If you've picked the space where you want to put your garden but you're doubtful that it will get six hours of sunshine, don't despair. The following vegetables will grow with as little as three hours of sunlight: beets, salad greens (lettuce, arugula, endive), broccoli, cauliflower, peas, brussel sprouts, radishes, Swiss chard, mustard greens, spinach, kale, and beans.

Reflection:

There is vital life force in the trees and the forest. Through the trees we can commune with the Angel of Life. Weather permitting you may want to take a walk in the woods or the park this week, or, if you're fortunate you may only have to step out into your own backyard.

“Go then towards the high growing trees,
And before one of them which is beautiful,
Hi-growing and mighty,
Say these words:
'Hail be unto thee! O good, living tree,
Made by the Creator!'
Then shall the River of Life
Flow between you and your Brother,
The Tree,
And health of the body,
Swiftness of foot,
Quick hearing of the ears,
Strength of the arms
And eyesight of the eagle be yours.
Such is the communion
With the Angel of Life,
Holy messenger of the Earthly Mother.
                         Essene Gospel of Peace Book Two, pages 41-42

 

Until next week,

 

Peace be with you,

Rose Mirabai Lord

 

www.makegardensnotwar.com

www.theessenechurchofpeace.org