Helen Yoest of Gardening with Confidence had the idea of writing a mission statement for our garden. I’m giving it a try.
I think my garden’s first purpose is to be hospitable. I want it to welcome flora, fauna, and humans alike. I want it to be welcoming, and not over burdensome for me to maintenance. Foremost is this welcoming aspect… which is very American in demeanor. Room for swings and running children, as well as bonfires and cookouts, with quiet places and seating areas tucked in.
I have a very large space, so integrating those things is easy, but the fact that I am aging and need to lighten to workload on this body (that won’t suffer a laborers duties anymore) means a change in how it is planted, and what it is planted with. So the second part of the garden mission is that it is kind to its gardener.
The third part of my garden mission is to provide. I want it to provide vegetable produce, plenty of flowers, some fruit, herbal and floral fragrance, and a safe peaceful background for our family’s enjoyment.
To coalesce these things into a simple set of words, this years garden should endeavor to:
Welcome life, host peacefully and kindly, provide abundantly.
