A Wee Bit of Gardening Addiction

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We never liked it. Gardening. I think I only ever imagined there to be a word like gardening addict because of my Mom. From my six year old perspective, I didn’t understand why anyone would spend dawn to dusk in the vast garden we had, which we mostly referred to as the farm. That’s how it felt to us with how constantly she went there.

But I guess we wouldn’t have had a problem with her gardening if she didn’t drag all of us with her. Practically made it compulsory for everyone to be in the garden with her, taking out the weeds, planting new stuff, putting in the fertilizer and everything in between. My Mom doesn’t believe in a little. She believes in going all out in everything.

So when the little vegetable garden was slowly turning into acres of different crops and several fruit trees, we just knew we were in for it. I remember my sisters and I grumbling, and saying in words like these, “I mean if you’re so in love with gardening, that’s fine. Why make it compulsory that we like it too?” My Mom’s customary response to statements like this was to smile while taking note of those who spoke and ensuring to add extra work for each person accordingly. It was almost a nightmare.

But as expected, it’s impossible to do something for long without falling in love with it in the process. I don’t know when exactly it happened, but I think it’s a build-up. A build-up of all those beautiful moments. Working together and singing loudly at the top of our voices (Mom and I were the alto singers), fighting when someone’s work portion seemed to infringe on the other’s, crying and laughing at each other when one or more of us got stung by an insect....the likes.

One time when Dad wasn’t busy at work, he joined us in the gardens. That day was supposed to be tedious since we had our garden in the backyard to tend to and the new acres of farmland Mom had bought to extend our gardening. It was so surprising seeing Dad change into “work clothes,” don a hat like you’d see in the movies and with a machete wielded stylishly in his hand, he grinned at us and said, “Let’s go gardening.” We worked a lot that day, singing and humming to songs from Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh who were my Dad’s favourite reggae artistes. I think it’s my favourite garden memory yet.

My family’s impact on my garden now is really strong. Even though Mom doesn’t “interfere,” so much in everyone’s garden, I still get a lot of tips from her. Like when my Chilli peppers had yellowing leaves or when my vegetables didn’t sprout how well I wanted them to. It feels nice that I can simply just ask and get an answer in the minute.

Sometimes I want to thank her for introducing us to it. But she knows we’re grateful since a great amount of the time is spent whipping delicious meals for her and my Dad. All from the garden. And then she’d get all boastful, and say, “You see if I didn’t get you guys indoctrinated into my gardening addiction.” And we’d tease her endlessly for preening so much.

My family’s imprint on the garden is felt in every shrub, every leaf, every fruit. When I drink the coconut milk from the coconut trees we planted several years back or use the leaves from a plant I resisted planting back then. Old gardening memories shaping up my love for gardening today.

Jhymi🖤


My Response to the Weekly #Creative Garden Challenge.

Image is mine.



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23 comments
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Bang, I did it again... I just rehived your post!
Week 183 of my contest just started...you can now check the winners of the previous week!
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Going by the picture, you guys have a large farm. I can only imagine the number of dishes that you guys can cook from the farm. It's beautiful, and resourceful too. Your mum did right by teaching you guys her tricks.

!pimp
!LUV

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Lol. Thank you. And yeah, there's an abundance of plant based food at home cause of this. It was tiring at some point, but now we like it so....

I can't wait to see how your own garden looks like.😄

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When my mother told me to water the plants I complained because it was not something pleasant for me, today when I see that it relaxes me and I really enjoy it, I laugh at the ironies of life.

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Yeah, it's truly ironical, how positively we react to gardening when it was something to grumble about previously. Thank you for making it here dear.🌺

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Singing together whilst gardening sounds like an excellent way to build a positive attitude to it (I don't because I don't want to scare the birds!). Plus the exercise and wonderful produce - sounds like your mother has given you a really healthy foundation.

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Lol. Birds are hardly around in those moments but I can understand the validity of this reason. Thank you dear.

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It is amazing reading this part of your memory with your family. It is interesting seeing this sort of child(ren)/parent relationship in a country like ours, and this part got me giggling cos... African Mom's are just so cool with their punishments.

To smile while taking note of those who spoke and ensuring to add extra work for each person accordingly.

Haha, it's a very good way for you to fall deeply in love with what you are given. Lol.

Hello dearest fashionable dreemer. Happy Wednesday. A new day is here to bless us with it presence. I hope you are ready with that priceless laughter of yours to fill our ears rhythmically because you are a gem in our world. I waltzed in from #dreemport, for I am an amazing #dreemer. An awesomely made #dreemerforlife.

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Yeah, she certainly had a knack in that one. Very inexplicably good at dishing out punishments to complainants and offenders.
I'm glad you enjoyed this trip down memory lane with me, Bali.🌺

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Yeah, I did. Enjoy the rest of your day .

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It's nice to have a garden. It can really be helpful I mean you don't need to be buying vegetables or other things planted . you can just take one or two things from the garden and you can cook or eat them on the spot.

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Yeah, that's exactly it. It's super conducive that we can make full meals just from the plants in our garden and their fruits in a few occasions.

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I love the fact that your family embraces nature and you guys are indirectly saving the plant. Such a nice family.

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Thank you, we certainly do try our best.😄

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-Hi @jhymi it is always good for the family to have unity in everything for the goodness of everyone. Whatever the result you can easily do things fastly and easily. Guidance of parents, as your mother did, was so great. At first, the reason for her advice seemed not understandable but in the end, we realized that it was all for the benefit of everyone! Thank you for sharing this with us. God bless you in Jesus' name! Amen!🙏. I came in through #dreemport
#dreemerforlife

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Yeah, we didn't understand it at first but we're certainly reaping the benefits now. Thank you and have a wonderful day.🌺

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I think I got the whole thing when dad joined in from work, I think I love the togetherness but it's fun getting stung by insects...I remember this cuz we have a garden but not everyone is allowed to go in. From #dreemport

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Oh really?
That means only selected people help out in the garden. Pretty interesting.

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humming to songs from Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh who were my Dad’s favourite reggae artistes. I think it’s my favourite garden memory yet.

I love this!!! I love Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh and Dad had Tosh on vinyl. Your family sounds so close and all the better that they influenced your gardening addiction. xx

Love, @riverflows


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Looks as though you are blessed with a large farm. Enjoy to the max whilst humming those melodic songs from Jamaican artists.

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