Have you ever read something that seems to be speaking directly to you? Like it was written with you in mind? And you have to read it again because you’re in disbelief? This was the feeling I had after reading Maira Kalman’s NY Times blog post, Back to the Land. I’ve read it again and again. It’s absolutely brilliant.
And moving. Well, moving me to replace the swingset with an edible garden. I don’t know if this was Kalman’s intention, but I think Thomas Jefferson would approve. I’ve been itching to dig my fingers into this well-defined area of our backyard for awhile now. But I keep putting it off. It feels wrong to dismantle the swing and the slide. From my experience, they are the crowned jewels of childhood.
But then I read this piece. Dammit.
And in it, I read this quote from Cicero: “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
How do you explain that to a two-year-old?
Something is calling me to begin a family garden. How cool would it be to make our own veggie pizza on Friday nights? Maybe there’s a new family ritual in our future. Or maybe I’m being a Pollyanna. I just can’t get Cicero out of my head.
**This post is a part of the Moms’ 30 Minute Blog Challenge at Steady Mom**
Kim says:
Hmmmm…..did Cicero have the option of a swing? If he had, I am sure he would have added a swing to that list!
Kim´s last blog ..Got a Bee in my Bonnet……
December 1, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Susan@improvamama says:
Thank you for sharing the Kalman piece — that is an inspiring read! I can’t wait to share it with others. We have a little backyard and my little person and I had a minigarden this summer (mostly tomatoes that are still hanging on) and I’m excited to be more ambitious next year. And I get the allure of the play structure…there is something so lovely about a swing…I have hopes of someday living somewhere with a large tree to hang a swing from and room to let us grow lots of things to eat.
December 1, 2009 at 6:35 pm
se7en says:
I knew we should be doing a vegetable garden but it was just overwhelming and all the books contained projects that were just vast…like rows and rows of carrots and three square yards of potatoes. This spring we made a keyhole garden: small manageable and fun… and we have been eating salad from it forever… while the rest of the garden does its own thing we have this little patch producing lettuce, tomatoes, celery and so on… with just enough maintenance for kids to keep it going. Follow the link if you want to know more about it:
http://www.se7en.org.za/2009/10/18/saturday-spot-our-keyhole-garden-continues
se7en´s last blog ..Se7en visit the Foresters Arms…
December 2, 2009 at 1:49 am