Friday, August 30, 2013

The End of Summer

Welcome back students and faculty! The fall semester is here once again! The late spring frosts we had seemed to foreshadow an iffy-growing season in the Midwest, but the Ecohouse Garden survived and is now flourishing with tomatoes (and the occasional overgrown weed)! Personally, my prairie garden back home never looked better than this year- a promising sign for a lush, beautiful garden next season! 

The garlic planted last fall  at the Ecohouse was harvested and is by far the best tasting we've all ever had. I can definitely say that I've added garlic planting to my list of garden traditions! A lovely sign off of for the fall! 

But don't fret! Just because the summer will soon begin its transition into fall doesn't mean that you avid gardeners have to pack up for the winter. 

The Ecohouse Garden will be adopting out beds for the fall and winter for some experimental off-season fall and winter growing! Any student that wishes to apply for a plot should stay connected to the Office of Sustainability website and facebook page for updates on upcoming workshops and workdays! 

Fall has always been my favorite season. This sounds somewhat silly for someone that enjoys the summer gardening experience. There is something so clean and crisp about fall- a refreshing end to a hot and humid summer. The leaves, flowers and grasses worked so hard- they will soon have a break from the constant sun and humid temperatures, but not before they get that last opportunity to showcase their unique colors. They give a taste of beauty to the world before the end of their life- eventually feeding nutrients back into the Earth. Trees really never stop giving. 

I am reminded of a book published in 1964 by Shel Silverstein- The Giving Tree. I read this book many times as a child; never captivated by the colorful pictures- the classic Shel Silverstein style (simple black and white pictures) allowed the story to be more captivating and stimulating to my young mind. The story is one of unconditional love- the love a tree has for a young boy that plays on her branches and eats her apples. He spends his childhood and young adult years enjoying the simple pleasures the tree can offer- until he desires more material items that prevent him from visiting. 

(Hear the story here on youtube!)

The boy and the Giving Tree
The tree gives the boy everything she has- her apples, her branches, her trunk. In the end, the boy grows old and tired, but the tree still gives endlessly; even if it's a simple place to sit down and relax.

The image of the old man sitting on the stump has never left my mind. As a child it was the one of the saddest pictures I could recall- yet, at the same time, the most loving.

For a while the book made me very uncomfortable- confronted with mortality at a young age- but now I am able to look back and understand and appreciate the lesson learned. 

This leaves me to ask myself- who is my Giving Tree?

Turns out I have an entire forest! Whenever asked to prioritize my values "family" is consistently at the top of my list. I was raised by two supportive parents that would give me everything they had and then some. I have three older siblings that have protected me through the toughest times in my life. I have a very patient fiance who gives me everything he can- and loves me unconditionally even when we are separated by an ocean. Mentors that keep me sane- communicating with me weekly, and helping me see the light at the end of my academic tunnel! They give me comfort and support to stand for what I believe in and persist against ignorance and attitude. 

As much as I take comfort in the fact that I'm surrounded by people that love me and keep me sustained (emotionally, mentally and physically), nourished, happy, and secure- I have to make sure that I am myself as giving to my loved ones, my community and to all others.  

"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."
~ Mother Teresa