Why I Love Yard Work

A few of years ago, we started gardening. Every spring we do a vegetable garden, but that first year I started an herb garden. I planted my tea and tincture herbs there. Chamomile, catnip, peppermint, spearmint, sage, wild garlic, rosemary, sage, and more. It is a perennial garden. Plant once, harvest forever. It is really quite lovely in the height of summer. Form, and function. What's not to love?

I spent today hauling rocks. Big, heavy dirty rocks. I have been building a wall around this garden. It's a circle about 15 feet in diameter. Here is the problem... There are no native rocks in my yard, or anywhere on our property.

Now, I could go out and buy rocks from a garden center. That would be the easy thing, the smart thing to do. The problem is, that directly violates my personal anti-consumerism credo. Not to mention my "I don't go shopping unless food is the result" rule.

So, that is how I found myself driving to my mother's house, not once but twice today. My little Honda straining under the weight of free range, organic, hormone free rocks. My mom runs a "you pick" type organization, way out in the country. I can have all the medium to largish rocks I want, complete with moss, and dirt, as long I as find, gather, and transport them.

I made a small effort when I first planted it to build this wall. That first year it was nothing but a circle of small stones. It was kind of pathetic. This year I resolved to build it up to about 10 to 12 inches, all the way around.

Today I made two trips, and I made two trips about a month ago. But it's finished. Every stone selected and placed by my hands. Moved in the trunk of my mommy mobile the twelve miles between Mama's house and mine.

I am tired, a little sore, and a whole lot proud. Bonus: Mama sends flower bulbs too!