“God Writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.”

                                                                                                                                            Martin Luther

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

We are almost at the starting gate for planting our gardens. So this week we're going to do a review of the preparatory steps that we've taken so far. But don't worry if you haven't done it all; There's flexibility in our gardening program.

If you have followed along week by week,

• You picked your garden location making sure that it will receive at least six hours of sun per day, that it is devoid of large tree roots and easily accessible from all sides.

• You decided what you will grow in your garden, taking into consideration the space available, what grows well in your climate and, especially, what you and your family like to eat.

• You ordered your seeds, either organic or, preferably, biodynamic.

• Using the Square Foot Garden plan, you designed your garden.

• You purchased pots and potting soil to plant the seeds that should be started indoors.

• At the appropriate times you planted broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, pepper and tomato seeds in pots in the house and placed them in a sunny or well-lit spot once they sprouted.

• You have kept the sprouts watered, making sure that the soil is moist but not saturated.

• You ordered the biodynamic preparations from Joesphine Porter Institute.

• You have turned the soil in your garden and mixed it with composted manure.

• If you did not already have a compost pile, you have now started one.

Of course, much of this is optonal. You don't have to use the biodynamic preps, but we believe that your garden will benefit greatly if you do. Nor do you have to have a compost pile. You can purchase a mixture of organic compost and cow manure (tradename – Moo-Nure) at Home Depot or one of the garden centers. You can also start broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes from purchased seedlings. If you decide to go that route, I strongly suggest that you buy organic seedlings. In the Pittsburgh area you can purchase organic and certified naturally grown seedlings from the Pittsburgh Garden Experiment. To find out how to order call 412-992-8640. Also, the East End Food Co-op usually carries some organic seedlings. In the DC area the Silver Spring Co-op currently has Broccoli, Kale, Peas, and some herbs.

If you have the BD preps and you haven't already done so, this week is a good time to put the BC (Biodynamic Compound) on your garden. Remember, the packet is going to make enough prep to cover a whole acre, so you can spray your entire yard or share it with your neighbors. It's good for the lawn, trees, shrubs, flower gardcns, etc. Be sure to follow the mixing and application instructions and stir it for the whole 20 minutes.

Reflection: “The concept of nature as mankind's bible is one that has been expressed by great thinkers and spiritual leaders throughout history. High on the list of virtues that I believe gardening can help to instill in us are patience, humility, detachment, respect for all of life and joy.

“The ideal existence of man, Zoroaster taught, is that of the gardener whose work with the soil, air, sunshine and rain keeps him constantly contacting the forces of nature and studying their laws. Study of this greatest book, the book of nature, Zoroaster considered the first step in creating peace and harmony in the kingdom of the Earthly Mother.

“He who cultivates crops cultivates righteousness.”

                                                                       Zoroaster

Of the Essenes it is said, “Nature was their Bible. They considered gardening educational, a key to the understanding of the whole universe, revealing all its laws, even as does the acting body. They read and studied the great book of nature throughout their lives, in all their brotherhoods, as an inexhaustible source of knowledge, as well as of energy and harmony. When they dug in their gardens and tended their plantings, they held communion with the growing things, the trees, the sun, soil, rain. From these forces they received their education, their pleasure and their recreation.”

                                         Edmond Bordeaux Szekely, discoverer and translator of the Essene Gospel of Peace

There is only one Holy Book, the Sacred Manuscript of Nature, the only Scripture that can enlighten the reader.”

                                                                                                                                      Sufi Master, H.I. Khan

Okay, fellow gardeners. Next week we start planting. Will you be ready?

Until then

          Peace be with you,

                               Rose Mirabai Lord

 

In case you missed any of the previous lessons,
go to www.makegardensnotwar.com,
click onto Angels in My Garden in the left side bar and scroll down to the bottom .

www.makegardensnotwar.com

www.globalcoalitionforpeace.net