Gayla's Magazine

The Dream Backyard

Susan took me to meet a friend of hers one morning, and I am so glad she did!

This lady has been inspiring to meet here in Los Banos California.  Sandy is such a joy to been with, and it seems like time just few by when we were at her home.  She has Proverbs 31 working in her life right now!  Wait till I show you what all she does.

She said that she quit the corporate world and she and her husband decided to raise their  children with a lasting legacy of a true mom and dad. So she is a stay at home mom, with an incredible talent unfolding. Not only is she home for their children, but she also has found ways to make their budget work wonders right in their own backyard. 

This is her backyard..... ok.... you say looks like a regular kind of a yard.  But what is happening here is a dream.  She is raising all kinds of fruit trees and  nut trees. Planted all around the sides carefully tended and properly with a real gardeners eye. How does she know what to do or plant? She reads books and asks other gardeners questions.  She started this in earnest to help feed their family and what has happened is wonderful and I knew you would want to see this! 

 

She has pomegranates, plums, oranges, lemons, limes to name a few.

Her apricot tree is loaded with fruit.

 

The pear tree is producing nicely too.

 

THIS IS AN OLIVE TREE!!!

 

She gave me a peach from her tree.  (We ate it later that day - was so full of flavor)

 

Just look at this fruit!

This is one of the two tiny greenhouses that is also in the backyard. She grows all her own veggies and herbs from seeds - then plants them in beds along the sides of the house. Check this out!

 

She has peppers, of all kinds, several kinds of beans.....onions, garlic and more I can't remember.

 

There are strawberries planted all along the fronts of the beds - see the strawberry?

 

Look at these grapes!  Her grapevines are full of fruit.  I am in awe of her skills.

 

Her herb gardens are full - she gives me hope to keep working on mine!

 

The tomato beds are full of plants - it's going to be a bumper crop this year she thinks. So think about this..... instead of all the grass that does nothing but grows, gets cut, grows and gets cut - her yard is producing food! She took all the empty areas - sides, corners, fences lines and turned them into blessings for her family.

What does she do with all this food from her own backyard?  She makes jellies, jams, cans and freezes them for her family to eat year long.

 

And she also has built a business from her hands now.  She has a thriving business selling her homemade treats at bake sales and now she is getting so well known that people are coming to her front door to buy! Sandy's Jam n Desserts is alive and well.

Then we get to taste test the fruits of her labors, and my oh my what a treat it was! She has a orange jelly like none else, also orange marmalade and strawberry jalapeno, hot jalapeno jelly and a blueberry banana that is fabulous!  We kept on and on because each one was more amazing than the last! 

She told us laughing that she is trying to get ready for a bake sale, but can't because people keep coming to the door to buy! Like us - there is no way we are leaving her home without some of her goodies.  So Susan and I both left with 3 jars each!

Sandy I am amazed and can't wait for others to see you and what you are doing in your own home.  I love you and I just met you - keep going you are a inspiration to thousands of others now!   

Here is a Flower for Your Day

Spring is here and flowers are blooming in many yards as I drive back and forth on my busy schedule.  I am reminded of this quote that I love!

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.

Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke
 

I love getting flowers personally.  For Mother's Day I received some surprises while we were away.  One was this pretty corsage that was fashioned on a ribbon so I could wear it on my wrist. From my RMA ladies back at home!!  I loved it!

And Dr Hicks gave me a corsage also that day. So thoughtful and kind of him.  So I felt covered in flowers, loved and very special that day.  And when we returned home, our daughter had flowers waiting on me in our house.  Another sweet surprise!

Pictures are wonderful because what is but a moment in time can be preserved to always enjoy later by viewing a picture.  Now I can  enjoy these flowers again and again.

Today I hand you a flower....... stop from your busy life and take just 5 minutes to set in a beautiful spot, someplace you enjoy maybe in your home, or outside in your yard.  And just be.... look around you..... take in the look of the place you are setting in.... enjoy breathing and being still.... give yourself a moment in time to treasure your existence in life.  It's just a little flower in the state of perfection at the moment, but soon to pass and fade.  It's like life's moments.... here today but for a fleeting moment.

Teach me, Father, how to go
Softly as the grasses grow;
Hush my soul to meet the shock
Of the wild world as a rock;
But my spirit, propt with power,
Make as simple as a flower.
Let the dry heart fill its cup,
Like a poppy looking up;
Let life lightly wear her crown,
Like a poppy looking down,
When its heart is filled with dew,
And its life begins anew.
Edwin Markham - A Prayer 

I hope you are a flower given today in the life of someone who needs encouragement.
I hope you are a drink of cool water today to someone who is dry and thirsty.
Because life is incredibly short and none may know when the moment is swiftly gone and the recapturing of loved ones impossible.  Dr Gayla Holley

Organic Container Gardening

Remember my organic container garden?  It's been working quietly all this time and now my efforts are starting to show.  All I have done since I planted the seeds is to water often. 

My beans are coming on strong!  I have now decided that next time I need to give them more space - along with the squash!

Today we will be having a restaurant serving of green beans for supper!  These are the best green beans I have even tasted - maybe because I grew them.

Everything is fine in the garden - but the tomato container.  What's up with these puppies??  I have no idea.  Any suggestions anyone?

I planted the seeds in good rich organic soil, with fresh water every couple of days. They are getting lots of sun.  ??  If they don't straighten up soon I am going to give their spot to some other plant!

The Urban Garden

I have chosen all organic seeds to plant, just to have truly normal real veggies and herbs!  No GMO's for me! I am not interested in genetically modified plants - no thank you.

I have picked tomato's, cucumbers, jalapenos, zucchinis, beans, bell peppers and pimentos, and okra.  And for herbs I planted rosemary, oregano, basil, cilantro, and parsley. These seed packets were too much for my little garden so they will have to wait on something else to plant in.

  I like my little container garden.  It's tiny for sure, but it will produce enough for us and probably our children too. 

And urban garden has to fit within the confines of a small yard.  And in today's world every suburban home could plant themselves a little fresh container garden - but then that would mean we would have to turn off the TV or the DVD or the VHS machines and spend some time in the evenings outside in our yards. 

But the rewards would outlast the 3-4 hours spent sprawled on the couch each evening eating junk food and feeding our minds junk too!  I can't wait till my babies start coming up!  It's certainly a cheap form of therapy, and the best kind of hobby to be involved in. 

Just so I can remember what is what when things get moving - I have a gardener's book started.  In it is the 'map' of where I planted each type of plant.  And the seed packet covers so I can see exactly what I am to do with these babies when they grow.   

When the tiny sprouts start peeking out, it never fails to bring a smile to a gardener's face.  No matter how big, or how small the garden may be.  The results always bring pleasure.   

Dirt Dirt and more Dirt!

Okay so Mr Brian comes with a helper and starts helping me get things going.  He takes the pallets off the plastic containers along with the the wire bins.  They are so big I can't move them or deal with this part.  Thank God for Brian!  Then he cuts the containers in two - and cuts the wire bins also.  But inside one of the containers was some sort of goop.  Not sure what this mess is.  But it's thick, has no smell, not greasy and it's water soluble.  Hmmmm and it's extremely heavy!  So the guys work and work and try to pick it up with different things.  Part of it ends up in garbage containers. 
But this is not a good plan look at this! Have you ever tried to pick up 5 gallons of slimey ugh?   

Now part of it is on the sidewalk - slid right out of the garbage!  Wonder what the neighbor kids will think about this in front of my house.  Not good .... not good!  I have to come up with a solution for this nasty mess!

  Now it's water time.  Soap, lots and lots of soap to clean out all these giant tubs he has ready for me.

By the time I am through there is water standing in the yard, and it's pretty much all over me!

But here is my little garden spot.  Everyone is in their places and I am happy with the results.  Thanks Brian for all your help. 

Now where is all that organic dirt?  I have time for a quick bite and back outside to fill my bins up.

Using my trusty drill - yes I own my own drill.  My husband got me this toy a long time ago and it does come in handy at times! I put some drainage holes in each one along with some bricks. Who wants to look at pictures of bricks - so we will skip that part.

We'll skip the dirt photogs too - here is the finished results.  Taa Daa!  I am happy with this - it's going to work well.

  Tomorrow hopefully I can get the seeds in the ground. 

It's been a great time, I'm dirty, sweaty, tired and ready to set down - no - lay down for a while!

More later!

Organic Gardening

When we pastored our first church in Kirbyville Texas some 25 years ago - I wanted a garden.  So the country men decided they would help this young missionary mom get a garden in the ground.  I was thrilled!  Until I saw them moving tractors in!  They fired up their tractors and dug and troweled and tilled up quite a large amount of land.  Then in their excitement to help me, they decided they would also plant it for me.  I was just to watch. I remember standing around in my high heels and dress, getting them lemonade to drink. 

'Now what'd ye want?  Jus li't us know and we will git her dun fer ye!  So I said how about some corn, and tomato's and beans and a watermelon.  Thinking of maybe we would grow just 2 watermelons and maybe a dozen tomato's for my little family to have that summer. And how about a bowl of purple hull beans? To make a long story short, everything exploded out of the ground, there was enough vegetables for the whole town!  Now I was a young mom with a little one, and not used to working in a garden. It was overwhelming.  I was embarrassed that most everything got eaten by the friendly deers and rabbits.  Didn't really want to let anyone know how bad our well planted garden became.  I can still see the rows and rows of corn hanging in the 'field' slowly drying and dying.  So that was the end of my gardening experience.  I never mentioned wanting one again!

But several years ago  I planted a tiny herb garden - I mean tiny -like 2 feet by 2 feet for several years.  But it just can't keep up with what I would like to cook with.  So this year it's been the idea for us to have a larger garden, but a container garden. Not too big .... not too much..... put it in containers for controlled options! 

So for my birthday my darling husband knowing what I wanted to do, got me a large amount of organic dirt!  And the containers, and the time of two men to move and help set it up for me!  Now how thoughtful is that!!  I love him for that. 

So here are the containers moving in.  These are something he has held onto at the warehouse for some time.  We think they will be the perfect size for our urban garden.

They brought 3 of these to be cut in half and set up inside my outdoor arbor.

Next my husband loaded his vehicle with ORGANIC SOIL, yes there is such a thing.  I want to try to eliminate as many contaminates, and chemicals that might be leached into the soil- as much as possible!

It's a nice gift!  I am looking forward to playing in this dirt!

Now to plan some time when things around here are relatively quiet so I can create a garden.  Now I feel like Goldilocks in the story of the 3 bears. My first garden was too hard! The second one was too soft! And now my third one will be just right! More later...... 

Sunshine Flowers and Dirt!

Now that it's getting to be nice and warm, my garden is starting to bloom.  Sorry to all my readers in the North who are still struggling with COLD weather!  Down here it's nice and sunny, good ole Texas sunshine!  

My plants in the backyard, are coming alive with color,  and I am getting the gardening itch. I can see all kinds of weeds that are uninvited and will soon be evicted from their warm beds and cast into the bottomless pit of my garbage can. 

Some in my garden greet me with a cheery smile, while others are sour and have a sad look to them. I know they are in need of attention after a long winter of neglect.

I have received a very special gift from my husband for my birthday - something I have been wanting for a while.  And this year I got it!! No..... I am not telling you till tomorrow when it all gets unloaded into the yard!

To all the backyard gardeners - you are going to like what I am going to write about tomorrow - I have to get my gloves out, my work jeans, and my hat.  Here goes for a day of enjoyable playing in the dirt!! 

Shopping Anyone?

The local Home and Garden Shop gives 'The Home Shopping Network' a new meaning here.  No need to have a TV to buy from, just open your front door.  Today this little shop has come with all sorts of wonderful plants and flowers to sell.  With a variety of prices one can do quite well fixing up the garden.  After the sell is made, the owner of the shop simply gets back on his small trolley and continues to the next house.  What a great way to have a stress free business. And so fast..... after the purchase is made, one can set about right then putting them in the yard, no traffic, no hassle, and best of all no wasted time.