Going Agrarian in Suburbia

Though he never was a Boy Scout, my husband has always liked their motto, Be prepared. He over-packs for hiking trips. He keeps extra tools and a windbreaker neatly tucked around his spare tire. On a bike ride this spring, he sent supplies home with me when I met him at the overnight stop -- turns out the ride organizers were well-prepared themselves, so he didn't need all he'd brought. And, in the less-practical-but-still-prepared department, one of his favorite books is The Zombie Survival Guide, something our friend John the Methodist is sure to appreciate.

Recently he bought a book in a new category for him: Mini Farming for Self Sufficiency.

Why? Among other reasons, he wants to know he can walk outside and get something to eat. He thinks we're missing out by not growing any of our own food, and I think he has a point. So, on our one-fifth of an acre on a pleasant suburban side street, we're preparing to dedicate a small area to growing produce. Learning new things -- or, in this case, old things -- keeps us prepared. And it's part of caring for God's creation in a way our parents have done, but we've never tried. We don't want that element of life to be lost to us.

God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food." (Genesis 1:29)

We began composting over the weekend in preparation for spring planting. He's painting our backyard shed red with white trim, like our own tiny barn, to get into the farming spirit. (Seriously. He started it before I got home from the office yesterday. It's actually pretty cute.)

If things go well next spring -- that is, if the neighborhood bunnies and squirrels don't make off with everything -- we'll have produce to share. One of our goals is to grow enough to give to our church's Food Share mission program (squash and tomatoes for 20 families; how cool would that be?). And, once he gets comfortable with it, he wants to explore the possibility of a community garden as a small group ministry.

A mechanical engineer and a digital community builder growing a garden? With God, all things are possible.

Comments

[John]

That's a good idea! A walled-in garden could provide extra food in the event of a zombie seige.