a garden just for her

When we planted our family garden last year, Sunny insisted on her own plot, which happened upon a random patch of grass near the stick fort. With no help from Grown-Ups, she dug, planted and watered, though haphazardly, and soon excitedly pointed out the green sprouts of peas and beans.

This year, after planting the family garden, she again insisted upon her own plot, which happened upon Mud Hill. As some of you know, Mud Hill is a spot in our yard that was left behind as we work bit by bit to re-landscape. It was a spot that doesn't grow any grass and is only about sixteen square feet in size. It is a spot we dig into when in need of black dirt for some other gardening project and is also the preferred digging and pouring spot for the necessary mud play that takes place around here. I am certain there are neighbors who think it unnecessary when there are such entertainment models as video games, but my girls...they play in the dirt. And I love it.

So, she dug and planted and up came green bean sprouts, then a fence, then a walking path, then string to hold the fence together and to keep the bunnies out ( never mind the large gaps in the said string and fencing). As the dirt in our yard tends to be hard, she allowed me to help a bit over the weekend. We worked the soil, pulled out rocks and grass and prepared the garden space for more seeds. It soon saw carrot, cucumber and basil seeds, and was put all in place before a friend ::thanks, Nikki!:: offered three extra tomato plants, two of which found homes in this cozy little garden.

And every day, she waters, checks the soil, does a little digging here and there and mostly comes in the house to be sent directly to the bathtub or back out to the hose. And every day, she grows more independent, more in love with earth, more in love with who provided us this earth to walk on, and more in love with the idea of eating what she herself has grown....and I consider it one of those moments when I have succeeded as a parent.