Season 16
When my son was young, we would glance into the rearview mirror to find him pulling a blanket over his head after a long drive or a long day to shut out the noise or light. To this day he still prefers his room to be like a cave when he sleeps: cool and dark. There have been plenty of days this year when I’ve wanted to snuggle up in a blanket and shut out the outside world. Even with moments of hope in the world right now, there is also a considerable amount of pain.
In honor of poetry month in April, this poem, Instructions on Not Giving Up by Ada Limón gives words to what many of us are feeling. The growth in all of us must continue past the protests, signs, Instagram solidarity, writing of bills in government, and get into our veins as a society for change to happen. This requires us to take a hard look at our own daily actions and biases and to notice when and why they show up in our lives.
We must tend to our children and the child within us.
We need to take the opportunity to understand each other by learning through books and by listening to the stories of others. Children often see the world as it should be before the world shows them the harsh realities of life. Encouraging all of our children to continue to seek possibilities by teaching them to think critically is key. Helping children learn to navigate the gray areas of life will help them become stronger leaders, engaged participants in their communities, and caring parents or community advocates for the next generation of children later in life.
We must tend to our bodies and minds.
We need to take care of our bodies by loving and respecting our own body and those of others. This means we embrace the imperfections in our bodies. Investing in mental health support networks helps everyone. Shifting the perspective to look at age as a natural process and put research equally into women’s changing bodies and brains as they age is vital to this country’s future. When we value and take care of the young, the seniors, and the disabled by valuing their contributions and listening to their experiences and the wisdom gleaned from their perspective we create communities that thrive.
We must tend to our gardens and our homes.
Spending time tending our gardens helps us all realize and appreciate the beauty and wisdom of nature’s imperfections. Whether we have an actual garden, a community garden plot, a balcony garden, or like to visit a nature trail or botanical garden in our city, we can savor its beauty. We can take steps to ensure access to nature is a gift to the next generation. When we take those same steps with our homes and tending to the needs of housing for others, we can choose quality and sustainable materials that last. Our daily practices of caring for the objects in our home will make them last longer and help to create meaning and memories.
We must tend to our communities and extend a hand and listen to the voices of those who may not have the resources to tend the areas of life that help them thrive or who are underrepresented.
“This verdict is not justice — it’s accountability. Justice is George Floyd still being alive today, raising his children and spending time with his family,” U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, said on Twitter. (Source: The Texas Tribune)
I saw an Instagram post this past week from @ibramxk where there were three photos. In the first photo was a black baby with a sign reading “When do I ”, a second photo with a young black boy reading “become”, and a third photo of a black teenager reading “a threat?”
I believe change begins with seeing all children as our children. It begins with our state and country investing in our children through quality education with wraparound services for the whole child. Change begins with valuing our community and our teachers, engaging with our leadership, and listening to communities that are underrepresented. We must engage in processes that create change.
I recently filled out an input request from our city manager on what characteristics, training, and engagement with the community our city’s citizens are looking for in our next police chief. I support community schools and non-profits in our community that work with whole-child based solutions. These organizations work with schools, community leaders, food banks, counselors, police, and other important resources in the community to ensure a healthy support network for youth in our community. These are just small actions I can take to be more involved in the change happening in my own community.
These support networks are more successful when combined with the general public identifying and working on their own racial biases. When we can combine both the wraparound services with the support of the greater community, we broaden the safety net for the next generation.
We must tend to our Earth.
This year we celebrate EARTH DAY on April 22, 2021.
For too long we have taken this gift of our planet full of resources for granted, and now we are paying the price. Small changes in daily habits can make a big difference.
If you have started to travel or are thinking about it in the future, why not consider a few adjustments to make travel have less of an impact on the Earth? Watch *How to Think Differently When You Pack for Travel and *Reducing Waste at Home (subtitles for both videos are available if you click the ‘CC’ for closed captions in the upper right hand side of the video).
*If you see an asterisk next to a link, it links to a video with sound. Just a heads up in case you need to turn the volume down or pop on your headphones.
HOME
Our schedule is starting to fill up more and the leisurely evenings of cooking dinner are no longer. I’ve switched to making lunch and dinner often at the same time to jar or pack a “to go” dinner for later.
Our weeknights (and weekends!) are usually filled with golf practice, and that means I want to pack something healthy for my son to give him energy that will last through the evening. I’ve been sticking to jar meals that pack easily and lend themselves to variety. I can add a little of this and a little of that depending on what’s in the garden or the fridge that week. You can also get ahead by prepping some of the main ingredients like beans, lentils, rice, or meat earlier in the week to give yourself even more of a break later.
Here are two ideas that were hits with our crew recently:
Poblano Pork Jars
Ingredients: pork tenderloin cubes cooked in poblano salsa and verde salsa, corn, beans, cilantro, lime, and rice
Mediterranean Lentil (or chicken) Jars
Ingredients: lentils (don’t forget - leave out the salt when cooking lentils until AFTER cooking or it will toughen them), chicken (optional) with za’atar seasoning, and a mix of cucumbers, red onions, chickpeas, and tomatoes with parsley or oregano and lemon
(This would be great with some goat cheese or feta as well!)
Spring is a great time of year to find gorgeous sprouts in your farm delivery box or farmer’s market. If you need a few ideas to get inspired, check out this post and video on *Ten Simple Microgreens and Sprouts Dishes
GARDEN
Our climbing roses are loving the sunshine right now.
In a small container in the garden, I’ve planted several varieties that can be useful in making tea. Lime and lemon balm are tucked in with lavender, chamomile and borage plants. Many of the plants are just beginning to bud and bloom, and I look forward to sharing some ideas with you for planting your own tea garden, salsa garden or other themed garden in next week’s blog post.
We had a run of 90 degree days recently and our borage was NOT a fan (hence the sunburned tips of the leaves). I ordered this umbrella ($) to keep the borage shaded in the hot afternoon sun. Luckily the temperatures are back in the 70s this week, but having this umbrella will extend the growing time for the borage when the temperatures tick back up or can be moved to other areas of the garden that might need a little extra shade in the afternoons. To create this makeshift umbrella cover, just ziptie the umbrella to a wooden dowel, insert the wooden dowel into the soil, and you’ve got shade.
Borage buds in our tea garden are about to open. These little purple-cucumber flavored buds are edible and can be used to make borage tea.
We’re going to have a feast of blackberries in a few weeks, and I can’t wait. Our second-year blackberry canes are going crazy with blackberries, and our first year canes are growing so quickly that we’ll be tying them up to the fence soon to help support the canes as they get taller. Timing is important when pruning blackberry canes as is understanding how they grow. Think of the first year canes as the overeager freshman trying to standing out and growing like a weed, while the second-year canes are more mature, subtle, and bearing fruit. You can read more about blackberry canes here.
First year blackberry canes (on left) generally are thicker, reddish in color, and are fast growing. The second year canes (on right) are generally slightly less thick, greenish brown, and produce fruit. You’ll notice a slight difference in the leaves as well.
I began pruning our tomatoes this week to reduce moisture and create airflow. I’ve also replaced the chicken wire covers with our handmade wooden trellises. I recommend the following video to get you started on pruning your tomatoes early for greater success (especially in humid environments). *How to Prune Tomato Plants (and Other Tomato Tips) from Roots and Refuge Farm
Our little tomato forest with some volunteer rue popping up.
Our swallowtail caterpillar family is growing.
Our cut-flower border is coming in nicely. I went for abundance and a lush feeling this year, and that’s just what I feel when I look at all these flowers packed in together ready to bloom.
Lettuces and greens are filling our plates daily. There are so many fun cosmos, zinnias and even basil tucked in to add color (and pollinators!) among all the bright green of the garden.
The anacacho orchid (on the far left) we planted might be a dud, so we plan on replacing it soon. We’re disappointed, but hopeful we can find another one at a local nursery. The roses that are new to the garden this year are about to bloom and are bordered by blooming English lavender and ornamental grasses.
WELLNESS
If you’ve been doing a little comfort decorating around your home, you’re not alone. This podcast episode about Comfort Decorating from NPR shares how to think about creating a soothing environment at home with functional zones.
CREATIVITY
How cute are these painted bricks for a garden? I can’t wait to make some for the community sharing garden we created in our alley.
BOOKSHELF
Celebrate your favorite indie bookstore this week! It’s Independent Book Store Day on April 24! In case you are looking for book recommendations for kids (or yourself!), gift ideas for all ages or want to peek into my TBR List for 2021 AND SUPPORT INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES, head over to the 52 Seasons Book Shop on Bookshop.org. ($)
Another event you won’t want to miss this week is the The National Anti-Racist Book Festival.
Need a few poetry book ideas for teens?
Don’t miss the New York Public Library World Literature Festival.
Currently reading: The House of the Spirits ($) by Isabelle Allende
Currently listening to: Bird by Bird ($) by Anne Lamott, Writers and Lovers ($) by Lily King, and Reading People ($) by Anne Bogel (available on Libro.fm)
Up next: The Downstairs Girl ($) by Stacey Lee, Garvey’s Choice ($) by Nikki Grimes, and The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together ($) by Heather McGhee
COMMUNITY
I LOVE libraries. Libraries are the hub of our communities and offer so much more than just books. Advocate for public libraries by using the hashtag #FundLibraries Campaign or visit Maya Smart’s website for more ideas.
If you’re fed up with the lack of spending on education for Texas kids, visit the Just Fund It TX website to take action. Send a note to Texas elected officials concerning the use of federal dollars for education. Let’s make Texas kids a priority in the state budget!
Turning leftover fabric into jackets and sleeping bags means warmth, jobs, and new beginnings.
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." - Desmond Tutu
If we all make a difference in our communities, that change will begin to happen on a global level. It begins at home. It’s what we teach our families and IT MATTERS.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read 52 Seasons. I’d love to hear your feedback and ideas so that we can grow together.
Check out some of my favorite resources here.
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