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.

Lunch with "strangers"

I spend a fair amount of time traveling about the US, both for business and pleasure. Like fishing and food, business and pleasure can be very rewarding when combined. One of the benefits of travel is not only experiencing different places, foods, customs, etc. but the people you meet along your journey. It is said that each of us comes into one another's life to be a blessing. Sometimes you are blessed, sometimes you do the blessing. Many times you do not know right away if you were the giver or receiver of such a blessing. I believe we come into each other's lives, not by happen stance, but for a purpose.  

I recently arrived at the airport, for a departing flight, early enough to enjoy a sit down meal. As I approached the restaurant, the only one in this small airport, I notice that everyone else appears to have decided to grab lunch as well. I get in line behind several parties to wait my turn to be seated.  A couple of women standing in line behind me make a similar observation that the host is seating single parties at tables that can seat four. I remember recently reading an article about restaurants implementing "community" dining tables. Long tables whereby those being seated next are simply given the next seats at the table. Dining with complete strangers in an intimate environment. For those who have dined on a cruise or the dining car of a train, this may not seem so bad. For those that are introverts, such a concept probably makes you squeamish. I am next to be seated. The only table I see available, again sits four. From our brief conversation in line, I know the two women behind me are on considerably tighter schedules now, as am I.  I ask the host if the table he intends to seat me at sits four. He confirms that it does. I issue an invitation for the two women to join me at my table if they would like. They gratefully accept.  

Upon being seated, our host comments how cool he thinks it is that complete strangers are sharing a table for lunch. He comments that this is only the second time he has ever seen this occur, the first being just the day before. As we make our lunch decisions, we strike up a usual conversation of "So what brings you to town? Where are you flying to today?" etc. They, like me, are on business. One is traveling to Minneapolis, the other, Mississippi. Both work in the field of environmental sciences and are in town for a conference. As we continue our discussion, over lunch, we find we three strangers have more in common than we could have imagined. I was blessed this day by the company at my table, the knowledge I gained, learning that the brown water of Greenville, MS really is safe to drink, and the hope that the brief time we shared together and the act of inviting complete strangers to the table sets an example for others and helps to bring society just that much closer to having never met a stranger. 

A Harbor in Paradise

Tonight I sit in a harbor in paradise. Shore power stations give off a romantic glow that dances on the glass like surface of the water. Crickets accompany soft jazz coming from a nearby restaurant. I draw on the cigar I procured in the Bahamas, hand rolled by a Cuban gentleman, it produces a peppery note. The occasional breeze provides welcome refreshment. My time on this island is drawing to an end for now. God willing I will return again to the salt air.

REEL, REEL, REEL, REEL, REEL!

There are just some things in life that must be experienced by oneself to truly appreciate the awesomeness in this world. We started early this morning boarding a flats boat, at the Punta Rassa launch, under the control of the very competent Capt Daniel Andrews of Ft Meyers. Within minutes of our arrival we are on the water making our way quickly, under the crescent moon lit sky, to our spot on Pine Island Sound in search of the Silver King. More like hunting, than fishing, we seek to battle trophy Tarpon in this region that attracts many to its waters. At first light, we are among them.  It is not long and it is game on. Capt Andrews reminds me emphatically, "reel,reel,reel,reel,reel", then I set the hook. The gray billowing clouds look like smoke rising up off the water as the sun, reminiscent of hot coals in a fire, begins it's quest to illuminate the sky providing the perfect backdrop for the battle that has just been waged. Keeping constant pressure on the line and bowing to its royalty with every jump, I grunt, as has become the fashion of many tennis players these days, as I try to gain leverage over he who descends from those who have ruled these waters since prehistoric times. A burning sensation, comes over my arm, as I call on parts of my body that have not worked this hard in quite some time. After what seems like an eternity, and a bitter sweet ending, the first of three of these magnificent fish I would encounter on this day heads back to whatever an approximately 180 pound fish does. 

For more information on charters with Capt. Daniel Andrews visit www.andrewscharters.com

The Island Cow - Sanibel Island

Conch Fritters, Shrimp Tacos, Fish Tacos...Island Soul Food! Great family place any meal of the day. 

www.sanibelislandcow.com

Fort Square Cafe - Gloucester, MA

A solid breakfast and great local crowd.

Bob's Chowder Bar

Located in Anacortes, WA their chowder is simply the best.

www.bobschowderbar.com