It’s pretty rare that my two loves coincide; but lately I’ve found myself reading up on my WWII History for the sake of my belief that #HomeownershipMatters
Times are strange, and that’s putting it lightly. As someone who loves social activities, networking, my clients, and my work; Sheltering-in-place to stop the spread of COVID-19 has been an adjustment. No lunch dates, no coffee hour, no showings or inspections, I can’t be present at signings or conduct in-person consultations. I’m sure a lot of you are like me: You’ve found yourself needing to spend your time doing something productive.
I’ve started running (which I hate, but it’s made me feel productive) and today is day 6. I’ve also been trying new recipes in the kitchen which has been a lot of fun. But, my favorite Quarantine Activity has been creating my self-proclaimed “Victory Garden”. I’m spending hours in my own backyard, a quiet space with some much-needed upgrades; digging holes for trees, mixing the Valley clay with compost to create a better workable soil. I’m also working out of two large planter boxes, one for vegetables and one for watermelon and berries. Building these planter boxes was something I left almost entirely to my boyfriend: hist wood-working skills are far superior to mine. ****Here’s a link to the video blog that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to build your own box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX7A9B9yBjU
The premise behind a victory garden is this: during WWI and WWII, people were planting home and community gardens at a time when food was being rationed and fresh produce was not readily available throughout the country. However, this push for local gardeners was not just for practical needs like supplementing ever-wavering rations: it was an attempt to get people outside, in the sunlight for some Vitamin D, effectively boosting morale as people were proud to be growing their own food. The Victory Garden movement proved so successful in fact, that the Department of Agriculture launched a campaign to encourage such gardens on community property, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt began her own Victory Garden on the White House lawns. It was an incredibly small but effective way of uniting the country.
Although today we’re finding ourselves in a very different scenario, I think Victory Gardens are incredibly relevant. I can attest that every time that I spend an hour or two in my garden watering my 6 fruit trees, pruning branches, picking weeds, and tending to the planters, I feel like I have accomplished something for the day.
More than feeling accomplished, I’m looking forward to the future: in a few months when I’m picking ripe veggies, and two years down the road when my fruit trees are covering the unsightly cinderblock back wall of my home, I would like to think that I will remember the time when I planted them: It was a time of uncertainty, a time of unwanted change, but I started my Victory Garden as a constant reminder that there is a season for all things; even uncertainty, fear, and change. There is also a season of reaping what has been sown. I look forward to the future, and I’m thankful to have a place of my own where I can sow the seeds of encouragement, faith, and times ahead.
If you or someone you know is interested in a Victory Garden, be sure to check out Belmont Nursery. Open during our Shelter-in-place, they are offering call-in ordering with curbside pickup! I highly recommend them, as they were always my grandparent’s trusted source for seedlings, soil, and care products during their 40 years as local farmers.
