Plant Some Spring Seeds
Right on the heels of Easter, and in the midst of a beautiful Arizona spring, we welcomed three new members to Desert Mission. The sense of renewal and growth is palpable in everything around us, so this week, get outside and plant something!
Gardening is a great family activity – even the smallest children can help, whether it’s by digging a hole, helping drop in a seed or plant, filling in the dirt, or watering what you plant. You can even bolster their scientific knowledge by talking about the life cycle of a plant as you work (it’s introduced pretty early on in schools, so they may already have the background knowledge to discuss it with you), or tap into their scriptural knowledge by re-telling the Parable of the Sower and honing in on how lots of things need to be planted and nurtured with care in order to grow.
In case your thumb is somewhat less than green, the website “Growing in the Garden” has some fantastic, very specific information on what to plant at what time of year, and how to care for it, including a page specifically devoted to things that thrive in April in Arizona. Now is the time for things like citrus trees, summer squash, cucumber, dahlias, sunflowers, parsley, and mint!
There are lots of places to get seeds or plants, but one incredible resource is the Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving heirloom seeds. They also facilitate the world’s largest seed exchange, connecting gardeners to each other AND distributing select varieties of seeds from their seed vault. You can sign up for a free account and request seeds from gardeners all over the country – all you have to do is cover the price of shipping and handling.
If you don’t have outdoor space, caring for an indoor plant or two can be a great family project as well. And if you DO have outdoor space, but already have all the plants you can handle, you can still devote some time over the next week to caring for your plants together – weeding, pruning, and watering as a family.
We truly hope you will make the time to appreciate the beautiful spring weather and the gift of the green, growing things all around us - and if you do, be sure to share pictures of your garden with us on our Facebook page. May the seeds you plant now grow and flourish in the coming months, years, and beyond, alongside our relationship with our new members!
