Monday, August 9, 2010

Making precious childhood memories in the garden

Malia planting pea's.... her favorite veggie and the first thing she's planted by herself.

By the standards most of the people of the world live by today we live a pretty slow and simple life here on this tiny homestead.  Malia and I are 50 yrs apart in age.  I'll be 60 this year and she just turned 10.   It's just her and I here.  We have no family locally and  I homeschool her.  She''s been with me since Thanksgiving day 8 yrs ago. We don't have tv most of the year because we're too rural for the local channels and if we have satellite we watch too much so I have it turned off a lot.   At 10 she's read a lot of the classics...Black Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, The Yearling and a number of others.   We talk of her going back to school so she has more contact with other children and more than likely she'll be in 4H this year, homeschooled or not.  

Some people would think it's a great way to raise a kid in today's world and others might consider it child abuse....no tv or video and only books, the woods and life for fun.   Either way, it's our life.   We have the animals...the pigs, goats, chickens, dogs and cats.  And that's great and can, at times be very exciting, like at baby time.    But I know in my heart some of her very best memories will be of our garden time.  

Every day we start out the same.   She gets the chickens out while I head out to the garden with a cup of coffee.  She joins me and we walk and look.   We talk about what's bigger or what's not bigger; what bugs there are, what flowers are blooming and  in plants like the squash or pumpkins, if it's the male or female flowers doing the blooming.  Sometimes we stop and pick something.  We talk of the great meals we will have this winter with what we are growing.  We watch the bee's do their busy work and walk somemore holding hands taking it all in.   It's a routine that is quietly solid.    She never fails to tell me " We sure have a great garden Grandma".    And I know these moments more than any others we share daily will stay in her heart and memory all her life as a time every day of  love.

A treasure found

11 comments:

  1. Just a quick hello. I've been catching up on my blog reading as I have been off line more and more lately due to all the work of the garden. Looks like you have been busy as well. Just love your photos of your homestead and those piglets getting big. Enjoy!

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  2. That is so wonderful that you can teach Malia about gardening and raising animals. I think that is amazing to pass that knowledge on. I know when she is older, she will remember these moments as great times! More families should be like yours!

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  3. Lorie - I've missed you! Glad your gardens is keeping you busy. It is that time of the year isn't it?

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  4. Mee - Thank you. I think the garden with it's calmness,as opposed to the animals which can be very "needy" will be the memories she holds dearest when she's older. Our morning routine in the garden has become a respite for us both.

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  5. It sounds like a wonderful way to raise a child - and a wonderful way to live. We severely limited tv when our children were small and encouraged lots of reading. If only we'd had a garden. The children were all on their own before I started gardening. But I do try to involve the grandchildren when they visit.

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  6. This process of coffee in the morning following my mother asking what is what is exactly the process that inspired me to be a gardener. They are enchanted memories.

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  7. Elizabeth, I wouldn't ever feel that you are depriving Malia. I think she has a very rich life. She's learning valuable skills, both caring for animals, and gardening, and I agree, these moments will be treasured by her later in life. My most treasured memories are of time spent wandering along river banks, through the woods, and gardening with my parents and grandparents. The most important thing is you're spending time with Malia. That cannot be replaced by any television, or video game.

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  8. Your post is heartfelt and very well written, with wonderful pictures to help tell the story... and it truly touches my heart. You are giving your sweet grandaughter the very best of life and that is worth more than anything money can buy. I especially like your little treasure... I have an affinity for those little guys!

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  9. I know time is key but I've yet to understand why a garden can work magic the way it does. But I know it does for many of us. I can still remember the first time I saw peas growing for the first time.

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  10. Elizabeth, your blog is beautiful! We're moving in 6 months or so and I long to get some land and do gardening and raise chickens. I linked to your blog through countless others. Not exactly sure how I ended up here but so glad I did and am catching up.

    Best,
    Danielle

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