Marigolds & Tears

Peace. I say this time and time again, but working with Mother Earth (Tonantzin) changes us. It ignites this fire within us that we just can't ignore. Bear with me as I speak of  something close not only my heart but my soul. 

As the summer comes to an end, we have been talking about phasing into our Fall crops, which dee expanded on in our last blog. (Tlazos a dee!)


We change, we move, it changes, it moves, but we must find the balance. Balance.

As we continually do our tasks, we step back each time and think of how things have changed, express our words of gratitude to the cosmos, to each other, shed a tear or two because we are overcome with emotion for the tasks we have completed that has no words to express/share/even write.

Last week we sat down to plan our crops for the upcoming season, and if you know me on any level I have talked about this at one point or another, greens in the fall, phasing, etc. As we thumbed through the pages of our catalog, did some on-the-fly research, the day began to escape us. We literally became CONSUMED in the work that we do. It was an eye-opening thing because we were gifted with the opportunity to do such work and we made so many plans. We debated, we giggled, we talked about things we wanted to offer our households and our community to enrich our lives.

Altar decorated with Cempasuchil flores

In the midst of discussing companion planting, herbs to repel pests, etc. We came across Marigolds or Cempasuchil in spanish. (Which is the flower of most used to decorate during dia de los muertos, Nov.1 & 2, a sacred day for many brown people that honors our past loved ones.) I began to become short of breath and had to turn away from my sister because F*#%! We talk about being in tune with things, building connections and there it was staring at us in the face.

Our ancestors knew these things, and somewhere along the course of history this knowledge wasn't shared with us. It moved me because I know in October I need marigolds. I see them in art, in stores, on altars, in cemeteries, and I know that it is a sign of acknowledging my ancestors, paying homage to the dead and respect. I didn't know it was used to keep Fall crops healthy. It sounds funny now, but tears are filling my eyes as I try to type.

I feel such a strong connection with muertos, and it just moves me that we will have the opportunity to experience Marigolds in the Original Jardin. I feel truly honored and gifted by the cosmos for this.

Paz,
Gritona 

Mictlancihuatl y Mictlantecuhtli

Above you can see the different energy representations from the underworld, Mictlancihuatl is the female represntation and Mictlantecuhtli is the male. The light/dark dark, the feminine/male to balance themselves. I felt it would be appropriate to share that part of myself here. It has been burning in my mind since Saturday.

Okra-Cen & Support

We have amaranth/calalloo, squash, tomatoes, okra, & Hopi beans growing in our Original Jardin right now. As we prepare for Fall planting, we are maintaining what continues to yield in our Space. We love our plantitas & are excited to work toward inspiring & opening our fence to you:

Okra/Squash

/Okra-Cen: A play on words for Okra- the yummy green-seed pod & the Español word for growth- Crecer - combined kinda like 'grow you some of this Okra goodness! - because that's what's happening for us!

Okra is taking off in the garden! It's been exciting to watch it's leaves & notice how 2 are rigged and one smooth- distinguished and shooting up. We are suspicious, though, that the calabasa squash that was planted and harvested nearby blended in though- we have vining okra....maybe? Ha!

Cool facts about Okra:

- One of the earliest accounts of Okra is by a Spanish Moor who visited Egypt in 1216, who described the plant under cultivation by the locals who ate the tender, young pods with meal
- Okra is easily dried for later use. A little dried okra in prepared dishes produces much the same results as does the fresh product.
- Okra Nutrition (half-cup cooked okra)

• Calories = 25
• Dietary Fiber = 2 grams
• Protein = 1.5 grams
• Carbohydrates = 5.8 grams
• Vitamin A = 460 IU
• Vitamin C = 13 mg
• Folic acid = 36.5 micrograms
• Calcium = 50 mg
• Iron = 0.4 mg
• Potassium = 256 mg
• Magnesium = 46 mg 

- There is an Annual Okra Festival in Burkville, Alabama- http://www.okrafestival.org/

/ Support

Much like us human folk need 'support', so do many of the foods growing in our Jardin.

Our tomato plants grew above the small cages we originally put them in so, after some discussion, we decided to buy 2 new cages and work them onto what we had already put down. We reinforced the cages where they intercepted and were able to branch the plant upward- works for now!

Beans 1: Built a trellis structure around the growing pole beans because, due to the corn already being harvested, they had no where to go but around the ground in bundles!

Beans 2: I used wooden stakes & thick garden string to create a triangle near all of the growing bean bundles. Once the grid was built, I untangled the 'bean bundles' and guided them up the trellises. I'm proud of the work & the frijoles seemed happy to spread out with SUPPORT! 

8/25/2013-
Seeing how far we've come and how the garden evolved much on it's own made us laugh and drop some tears into the ground as we closed our day of work with our palabra. As much as we did guide what would grow, we have allowed and the seeds have shown that they rule. They go where they want and our job is to protect them, make paths, understand when they move the way that they do, and appreciate the flores/food they gift to show thanks to us for the guidance y amor.
We spent another 3 hours after this picking out Fall seeds to order and make plans for a raised bed within this little squash-induced maze. Greens is the name of the game & the marigolds are also going to be sweeettt... More on all this from Gritona to come!

P.S. We harvested 3 sunflowers worth of seeds & (what we now believe to have not been Red Creole but) Tohono O'odhalm I'itoi Onions!

Thank you for reading & please email questions & check our page via facebook at The Original Jardin.

We are taking donations of:
- Cardboard (no white & as little labels as possible)
- Composting materials
- Used Coffee Grounds
- $$$$ to help us purchase soil- We are an organic non-GMO & chemical free garden, so great soil blends & upkeep are key & is a bit pricer to maintain since we don't do miracle grow and find natural pest deterrents where possible, etc.

Peace 4 Now, Mi Gente

~ dee!