Adventures in Gardening

As a child I remember my daddy tilling the garden...our job was to then fill our buckets with rocks, so that the garden would grow. I don't remember all we planted or how well the gardens grew, but I can remember breaking beans, shucking corn, and mama canning them along with tomatoes.

I have not ventured to far in gardening as an adult...I can grow tomatoes, peppers and herbs from a plant, but never ventured into planting from seeds. After finding I was allergic to corn  pollen I could no longer frequent our large community garden.

Our neighborhood association as a collective decided the large, lot-sized garden was a bit much to manage...last summer the rain and weeds beat us all out! We talked and dreamed of attempting a small raised bed garden and if it works planting them throughout the neighborhood. Thankfully some friends blessed CH1 with our first raised bed plot!

Last week we went to the Hopkinsville Christian County Public Library and picked out 7 packets of seeds from the seed library. Along with the ones we already had on hand we planned an evening and planted our plot!

We are definitely learning as we go, but can I just add how delightful gardening with a friend is...just made it not feel like work at all...although we had plenty of dirt and sweat on us by the time we finished!

If our green thumbs prevail, then we should have in the DANA/CH1 Community Garden:

- Tomatoes

- Sweet Bell Peppers

- Banana Peppers

- Jalapeño Peppers

- Spinach

- Green Onions

- Lettuce

- Red Okra

- Cucumbers

- Zucchini

- Turnips

- Collard Greens

- Snap Peas

 

  

 

  

    

Free Little Library

Today there was an article in the paper on the Free Little Library...we also had a knock at the door with a neighbor and her son's sharing two bags full of books! We love getting to meet and visit with our neighbors and share books with our community!

 

 

Thank you so much to the Ross-Outland Sunday School Class at Hillcrest Baptist Church for your hard work on this project!

Lessons from the Street Corner

Last night late in the evening we heard barking...a constant, loud bark with hardly a breath between. Finally after what seemed like 15 minutes my husband went out to investigate and I heard an, "oh no" from outside. I quickly threw on my shoes.

As I walked out a cat came over and began to meow with the same constant insistence...I looked in the direction they were making their pleas to see a little honey brown pit bull pup lying on the sidewalk and breathing laboriously.

We shewed the barking dog and cat toward their home and my husband went over to check out the poor pup. It had been hit by a car and could not move anything, but it's head. We stayed as he rubbed it's head and talked gently to it and a few minutes later it passed.

Around the same time the other dog stopped it's incessant barking...almost as the plea for help could stop. Suddenly sleep was not quite the priority as we contacted animal control to help. A neighbor stopped by to chat and share good news on how he is getting on his feet again.

It struck me how adamant that dog was in crying out for help and the cat, too. I don't think I had ever seen this behavior before in animals...but these three run the streets together...we had seen them often over the past few weeks and commented on hoping they stayed safe.

As we returned inside to sleep I pondered the pleas of these other animals, their stick-togetherness. It made me reflect on how adamantly I call for help if I see another in need...one of my pack...

So...slow down...drive safe and be on watch for children and animals that may roam our streets...look out for those around you and never stop trying if you know one of those you do life with needs help...

Spring Blessings

Last Sunday as I was typing up the blog post about summer dreams my husband had a friend at church ask what they could do to help us at CH1...

We initially mentioned snacks are always used and quickly realized they wanted to know a project or projects that could bless our ministry. We mentioned our "summer dreams" of a community garden and Free Little Library...and ya'll I cannot begin to express in written word my excitement today as our dreams became a reality...

So...without further ado...let us show you how these volunteers spent this afternoon blessing our neighborhood!

OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN

 

  

 

  

OUR FREE LITTLE LIBRARY OF HOPKINSVILLE 

 

    

 

    

 

 

Can you believe it? Amazing!!! We are so blessed and so grateful not just for the project these men did, but the servant hearts they displayed and the prayers they prayed over each completed project...that the garden will flourish, as will the faith of those that work in it and that the books will be a blessing and lead to many opportunities to share love and our faith with others.

While they worked our little guy also had a great surprise of getting to play with friends, while I moved the hosta plants to our planter box...

 

We hope you have had a wonderful Sunday afternoon! Please share your Spring blessings with us in the comments.