A summer day in The Green Garden

Sometimes you have those days when you decide it is time to give the garden some well-deserved attention again. Today was one of those days. There were several small tasks waiting to be done. Plants that unfortunately did not make it, weeds growing between the plants and the tiles, and spoiled apples lying beneath the fruit trees. They are not always the most enjoyable tasks, but they are the things that help the garden breathe again.

While I was working, I realized how beautiful it actually is that a garden is never truly finished. There is always something that needs care. Something that is allowed to grow. But sometimes there is also something that needs to make space for something new.

Today we were also able to welcome new plants into the garden. We bought violets ourselves. In addition, we received cuttings of lemon balm and lady’s mantle from people who care deeply about our community. I find it special that people contribute to The Green Garden in this way. It shows that this garden is not only meaningful to us, but also to others.Of course, I could not resist making a cup of tea with our extra lemon balm. Even on a summer day, I enjoy drinking a cup of hot tea. My favorite blend at the moment consists of lemon balm, marva and mint, freshly picked from our own herb garden.

Maybe that is one of the things I enjoy most. Simply walking into the garden, picking a few herbs and turning them into tea. I love experimenting with different herbs and discovering new flavors along the way.

With my cup of tea in hand, I walked back into the garden and continued with my tasks. We gave the plants extra nutrients to support their growth and help them become stronger. I also cleared away the spoiled apples beneath the apple trees and removed the weeds growing between the plants and the tiles.

While working in the garden, I see the birds around me searching for food. Meanwhile, butterflies gently flutter from flower to flower. These are the little moments that I truly enjoy. They remind me that The Green Garden is becoming a place where nature also feels at home. When I finished my tasks for the day, I looked around with a satisfied feeling. There are still many things waiting to be done, but the garden looked a little cleaner and more organized again. That gave me a sense of joy. Sometimes satisfaction does not come from finishing everything, but from seeing how much difference a few hours of care can make.

I thought back to what the garden looked like a few years ago. When I see how much everything has developed, I can only feel grateful. Every year the garden looks a little different. Not because everything changes overnight, but because we continue to invest time, love and attention into it .At the same time, this day reminded me how many ideas we still have for The Green Garden. There are so many dreams that will slowly take shape. I look forward to continuing to work on them in the coming time.

I ended my gardening day with a large glass of cold water, ice cubes and a few fresh leaves of lemon balm, once again picked from our own garden. After a day of working outside, it tasted even better.

While sitting there, I looked into the garden one more time. I saw the flowers, heard the birds and thought about everything that has grown over the past years. Not only the trees, plants and herbs, but also the involvement of the people around us.

There is still plenty of work to do. But today reminded me once again how far we have come.

And how grateful I am to God, who gives us the opportunity to build this place. I am curious to see what He has in store for us next.