Introduction
I was about 5 years old. My older brother Peter and I were left alone in the waiting room of the local hospital. It was actually the lobby, and my parents were visiting a friend. Children were not allowed to visit folks back then. So we quietly sat, waited and watched.
And watched I did with so many people arriving and leaving and going about their business. I remember studying the nurses and doctors walking bye. Their white coats, dresses and shoes sure stood out. What really stuck me was their stride and purposeful gait. They seemed to know where they were going, what they were doing and had an air of confidence. I decided that very hour, that I would become a nurse. And so I did.
My uncle, Sam, was an editor for the Reader’s Digest and he wrote a lot. Some time, long ago, I decided that I would write some day as well. Over the years there have been plenty of emails, memos, regulatory policies and plans. I have been writing all along. I often enjoyed my nursing work, but my soul and spirit were singing a slightly different song.
This song of yearning had to do with the outdoors, gardens, animals, insects and plants. What was very consistent in my life has been a passion for the natural world. Both my parents Bev and Al, gardened: Mom grew the flowers, cherry tomatoes and herbs; Huck the vegetables. I moved to Camphill Village in Copake, NY just before turning 19 which kick started my career working with individuals of all abilities and started my quest to learn to garden well. I vividly remember transplanting leeks into the bountiful Biodynamic garden. The time spent at Camphill has guided me positively in many ways over the years, ways that I can’t even articulate and perhaps ways that I am not even aware of. Gardening continued as a main part of my life over the years in W.Va. and now in Maine.
Since being outside and gardening were second nature to me and I wanted to write something I was passionate about, I decided to start a column for the local newspaper, The York Weekly (seacoastonline.org). The writings were about my vegetable and flower gardens. Trials and tribulations of gardening, tips for beginning and seasoned gardeners, healthy benefits of eating particular plants and the showcasing of various fruits, vegetables or flowers were the roots of the column. Why not compile all of this into one colorful book? Why not travel through the life of a Maine garden and gardener in the manner of an almanac? Why not produce a beautiful gift and include poems?
Thus, intent number three came into fruition. I resolved to make the above a reality. I sowed the seeds, nurtured the baby seedlings and now am delightfully harvesting and reaping the rewards due to perseverance and intention. You are holding a book of essays, poems, simple recipes and musings all rolled into one for people of all gardening abilities to enjoy. This book is a gift for gardeners and for others who appreciate nature, for people who respect our earth, for people who want to increase their knowledge base or are seeking some inspiration.
