Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned From Gardening

The title of this blog, "Allway's Hungry...", was born of a love of food and fishing. I have a love / hate relationship with food and a pure love of fishing. Each of us is on a journey unique unto ourself. Through much time in quiet contemplation, prayer and study all I seem to be sure about in my personal journey is that it is to be lived in that moment and enjoyed; for this is the day that the Lord has made and we should rejoice and be glad in it. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. It is a harsh reality.

In keeping with the theme of this blog, I have always been hungry for knowledge and I have been known to be a fisher of men, so I see these as fair game for this forum. For the past year or so I have had some extra time on my hands but it has been the past 90 days or so which have been rather transformational. My love of food has deepened, but become more focused. My favorite fisheries of southwest Florida are strife with pollutants. My spiritual awareness has been reawakened. True social convictions no longer hidden.

I have a passion for gardening which I credit being instilled by my maternal grandfather, a Sicilian immigrant, who tended to his garden, harvested its fruits and prepared them in the kitchen. I can vividly remember the sound and smell of the old aluminum screen door. The richness of the soil. The sight of laundry dancing in the breeze on the overhead clothesline that ran the length of the backyard from the porch to the alley. The metal Sears Roebuck garden shed housed the tools of our trade.

I read somewhere that to find your passion you should go back to your youth and think of those things you loved to do when you were uninhibited. Things that came naturally and held your interest for long periods of time where the only payment you received was the shear joy of doing whatever it was you were doing.  I think I have finally shed some light for myself after many years of searching.

As a gardener, you prepare the ground, sow the seed, nurture the young plants, harvest their fruits, celebrate the harvest with family and friends and know that beneath the cold and silent winter is hope for new life. So I may not have learned everything I needed to know in kindergarten, but I may have, from gardening.

For the first time in a long time, I have returned to my roots as a gardener. I have planted a small hobby orchard and I am currently preparing four raised beds that will be home to a myriad of fresh produce. I mentioned previously that my love of food has deepened, but become more focused. As we all know, one thing leads to another. I am not sure what triggered the chain of events, but I am grateful. I suspect the Holy Spirit was stirring within as I know I could not have done this alone.

I have always been a fan of fresh and organic foods but processed, commercially prepared, and fast food was convenient and seemingly less expensive. With a Coke comes a smile, right? Let's just say it has been nearly 120 days since a soda of any kind has crossed these lips and I probably smile more now than before. I have embarked on a journey with Real Food and have not looked back and have no regrets, only improved health and energy. Has it been easy? No. Has it been worth it? Absolutely.  It has inspired me to become a gardener once again. It has exposed me to thinking differently. It has made me more conscious. More socially aware.

For a long time I have held the belief that you should seek out all the experiences you can. Through becoming more focused on real food, I have broadened my experiences mentally, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.  Enjoy the journey. Awaken your passion.