We all do better when we are connected to the Earth

It's been about two weeks since we planted our beautiful romaine lettuce transplants and look at them now!

There are so many worries when we put plants into the ground. Will they make it? Will they get enough water? Did their roots suffer too much damage in the transplanting process? Will aphids attack them? Will caterpillars eat holes in them?

It is so gratifying to see plants do well. They are our babies and we have to check on them to make sure they continue to do well, but the earth is doing most of the hard work for us. The earth is nourishing them. The earth is holding the water for them to drink and keeping their roots cool. The earth is helping our plants be grounded while they reach for the sky. The earth is giving them nutrients so that they can process it into vitamin rich leaves that will in turn feed and nourish us. Farming can be considered rudimentary to some, but the science and complexity behind vegetable growth is simply fantastic to those who take time to understand it.

We are blessed to witness this process of growth and also changed by it. While we planting our last batch of romaine lettuces today, we were surrounded by plants that were thriving - weeds included. :)  Underneath our feet there were worms burrowing and loosening the soil, admitting air and water and helping the roots of our plants grow. Above our heads, there were beautiful clouds and hawks. It even rained while sunshining for a little while too. It was a great day to be outside and connected to the earth.

Worms, weeds, and wings

As with most things that are beautiful and cherished, humans have this natural instinct to want to protect it - us included. We continue to put row cover around our plants to protect them from bugs.  Today, we took extra steps of protection in by installing a chicken-wire fence around our bean plants so that deer to not eat them to the ground like they did last year. Take that deer! Ideally, we would like to create an environment rich in beneficial plants and insects that deter pests and protect our vegetables. However, we have spent a lot of time planting and weeding, so a quick  fence will do for this season!

Baby bean plants protected by our new fence