I have been gardening off and on for the past fifteen years because the process is extraordinary. Plant a seed (or a plant), get my hands immersed in soil and water, watch it grow and experience delicious produce. Tomatoes are always a key component to gardening decadence because I love fresh tomatoes, basil and salt; throw in a cucumber and ahhh. One summer as I proudly nursed my wee tomato stalk, and it’s five little reddening tomatoes a friend said, “Anyone can grow a tomato, they grow like weeds.” I remember how deflated I felt, my moment of unique exemplary skills as a master gardener had sunk to being just one of the masses, as anyone could grow a garden.

And for the most part, everyone can grow a garden, tend to a weed, allow something to sprout from seed and develop into something more. Well this year, my past meager attempts of gardening have moved into another realm. Add raised beds, compost, mulch, and watering a few times per week and those little stalks have moved into a jungling metropolis, encroaching on being overgrown and producing succulent cucumbers, basil, tomatoes, eggplant, chilies and peppers to a point of over abundance. Imagine, over abundance! And this garden is hardly any work in comparison to my less producing, more time draining prior attempts. The most abundant and the least amount of effort, go figure?

So what does the garden have to do with anything? One single thread continues to show up as I watch from the window, munching on yet another cucumber. Put the right ingredients together and things will grow. So what I have been asking myself is how can the garden serve as a metaphor; how can it remind me of what is necessary for creating an abundantly prolific bountiful life? Why don’t I assume each plants production is a manifestation of a blessing? What are the ingredients to create growth, change and produce? What do you need to put in your box to allow you to cultivate an effortless life? All you have to do is plant a seed, and the universe will take care of the rest. What is your perfect recipe? Happy harvest!