What a wonderful celebration, a day to reflect on the earth we dig in and all that grows!This year to commemorate Earth Day, Michelle over at Sage Butterfly has started a wonderful Earth Day Meme called Earth Day Reading Project In which I was invited to participate in, what a treat!
Before I share my books though, I really wanted to take a moment to reflect on the changes I have chosen to make this year as a gardener and as a goodwill ambassador to the planet. While my small little plot is well, very small. And all my neighbors are chemically inclined, I have chosen to take a leap of "greenness" and eliminate pesticides from our property, I am learning to embrace dandelions in knowing that every little bit will help! This year is a year of discovery, in composting, veggie gardening, salvaging, recycling, buying wiser and using less. I often think, can one person really do all that much? It is a big commitment, really is it worth it? But honestly I am excited about these changes and while I might be a small fish in a big pond, at least the water I directly swim in is healthy, safe and clean =)
Here are three books that have inspired me to think and re-think what I am doing, to better tend to my little plot and how a little difference can really make a World of difference!
Cultivating Sacred Space: Gardening for the Soul
By Elizabeth Murray
- I love art, just as much as gardening and when I came across this book gardening for the soul, it brought both of these loves together in one sacred space. This book gave me the inspiration to get out in the garden and start digging, and making the green space thrive...This book is about how the garden restores the soul and feeds all of your senses, and that's echoed beautifully in this book through each of the seasons...My garden is my sacred, special, spiritual, soothing space that I love to watch grow!
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A year of food life.
By Barbara Kingsolver
- This book is one of those books you cant put down and then it ends up changing your life! I never thought I would ever EVER grow my own veg and be so passionate about what I eat, but after reading the inspiration found here, I was eager and excited to try it. This book chronicles the year that Barbara Kingsolver, along with her husband and two daughters, made a commitment to become locavores–those who eat only locally grown foods. A beautiful book about getting back to the simple joys of growing vegetables.
Gumnut Babies
By, May Gibbs
- I don't know one Aussie kid who did not grow up listening to the stories and adventures of the cheeky gumnut babies. This book is where I first found my love of nature, the love of protecting plants and the environment, a knowledge of the elements and how harmony is needed to survive (yes even the bad old banksia men!) To this day, Bib & Bub have a special place in my heart. My love of the environment all started from this book at a small age, plus I wanted to grow up and be a flannel flower fairy!...thank you May Gibbs.Here are just a few inspiring gardening blogs I have recently stumbled across....
http://lifessmallblessings.blogspot.com/http://www.desperategardener.com/
http://patiopatch.co.uk/
http://gardenseyeview.com/
http://gorightinmygarden.blogspot.com/
http://www.thewhimsicalgardener.com/
http://www.lettuceshare.com/
http://canoecorner.blogspot.com/
And for more amazing blogs, as there is just way to many to list, check out Blotanical....
http://www.blotanical.com/
