Farm Fresh May 2025: Finding Our way back to the Garden

Farm Fresh, May 2025
In this Issue:

Finding Our Way Back to the Garden
Dance Retreat July 31-Aug 31
"Snail Shell" Planter
Market Day July 14!

Join us for a truly uplifting experience, Weaving a Vision Together!
Dances of Universal Peace July 31-Aug 1, 2025!

Dear friends,

Finding peace and sanity in an insane world...

Alongside connecting with nature, something that has had a positive effect on my life was deepening my relationship with plants and food.

When you grow a plant, the very act takes you outside yourself, outside your head. You turn off the news and social media.

Flowers bring your life beauty.

Plants can improve the air in your home, and the greenery add to your sense of well-being.

But you can take it to another level when you grow plants for food. Even those with limited space can raise a few herbs, maybe have a few plants in containers on your terrace or deck. It changes your consciousness to consume food that you have raised yourself.

Container gardening can be great for those with limited space.

"Square Foot" gardening is an effective way to fit a wide variety of plants in a compact space.
As the plants grow, they shade out the weeds. Trellises allow you to grow vertically as well.

If you don’t have space for a garden of your own, you can become connected with a farmer, or a CSA (community supported agriculture), where you receive delivery of a box of fruits and vegetables every week or two. Many people running a CSA will readily accept the help of volunteers who want to come out occasionally to weed or help pick produce.

The Farm Market Day, The Second Saturday, April - October

These folks who have chosen farming as their life and bring their products to a local farmers market need and deserve our support. Develop a relationship with a farmer. Know where your food comes from.

Putting your hands in the dirt is literally a way to become more grounded. And who can’t use a little more of that in their life right now?

For me, gardening is not just a way to produce food, it is a spiritual practice. I like to get out in the mornings around when the sun comes up. I tune into the Earth as I listen to the birds in their morning feeding frenzy.

I am more aware of the weather, the changing of the seasons and the cycles of life, from putting a seed in the ground to pulling out the dead plant after the harvest is over.

I realize I am not alone. There are critters and bugs who want to eat my plants and vegetables as much as I do. And so I must take steps to protect my plants, putting up a tall fence to keep out the deer, a low tight fence to keep out the rabbits and armadillos, cloth covers to keep away the insects. I must take extra steps to protect my plants for moles and voles underground. They get all their share, but we must rise to the challenge.

I tune into reality as I become more aware that all vegetables and fruits have their season and what I eat is directly tied to those seasons. We lose this when all our food comes from a supermarket, and we have everything under the sun on a shelf 365 days a year. I think foods taste better when they are grown locally, eaten in their season, and not shipped from hundreds or thousands of miles away.

As we undergo the unknown future of climate change, the uncertainty of foods shipped from far away, the out of control price increases taking place every day...

Think about the future. Where is your food coming from?

Consider a lifestyle change that can make gardening a part of your life.

… and find sanity in the process.

Thanks!
Douglas

My daughter and I have been keeping bees for over 20 years.

We typically harvest from 7-12 gallons per season. In this photo, we are about to capture our second swarm of the year.

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Finding Sanity in the garden - Grow something!

Jan's expansion doubled the size of our community garden!
She presents a beautiful example of getting serious about growing food!

This member's bamboo greenhouse provides food for his family all year long.
 
Our friend Matt Dunkin (shown here with his son) owns Dukin's Market, our local garden supply and vegetable stand. His chemical-free plants are sourced from the local Amish. On Facebook
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The "Snail Shell Method of Starting Plants
If you have tried to buy garden plants lately, you may have noticed that, like everything else, the prices have skyrocketed! Growing your starts is cost-effective, and you also get better plants that have been lovingly cared for and not pumped up with chemicals.
 
Step 1: Spread potting soil along a plastic sheet about 4-8" wide.

We recycle our sunflower seed bag (from the birdfeeder). 
Plant the seeds along the top edge at their desired depth.

Roll the sheet up like a cinnamon roll to make the snail shell. Water and wait!

Watch as the seeds sprout and the plants grow!
Shown here: Sugar Snap Peas

When the roll is unfurled, the wide planting area promotes expansive root growth and prevents the plant from becoming "root-bound."

Arrange the roots in your planting bed and cover.

Happy Growing!
 

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Thank you for your time and attention! Come visit us to see more!

Douglas Stevenson
Douglas@villagemedia.com
www.douglasstevenson.com
Village Media
www.villagemedia.com

My books:

Out to Change the World and The Farm Then and Now

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The Farm Then and Now $19.95 plus shipping

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Watch my TEDx Talk: Out to Change the World - Living the Hippie Dream

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Douglas Stevenson
Douglas@villagemedia.com
www.douglasstevenson.com
Village Media
www.villagemedia.com