Learning To Grow Good Things

More pictures are in this fun video of my friends at the Garden Department.  They have a wide variety of garden and lawn decoration offerings.  Click their name above and see their store.  Just ask for Vic and let and his staff guide you to your needs.

"Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish, and you will feed him for a lifetime."  Chinese proverb

Zen Gardener, John

We are halfway through the month of June, and my Shibumi Garden has transitioned from seedlings and small plants - to medium-sized early producing plants.  They are giving us a glimpse of the large and flourishing, food-bearing plants that they were destined to be.  My lettuce, spinach, kale, carrots, potatoes, and radish are thriving.  I have reached out to a few newer people in my area about hosting a couple gatherings for Mint, Mind, and Mingle.  They're all enthusiastic about doing it.  Some of them even revealed a few gardening secrets of their own.  Just like that, a shared sense of community has been started.  "Seeds" have been planted.

I did visit two of my local "community" gardens that were created by local entities here on Long Island.  These community gardens were designed to help share food for the community or for personal use.  One of the gardens has a beautiful location, but it also has an extremely limited offering. The second "community garden" has fallen into disarray and was full of weeds due to an obvious and unfortunate loss of interest.  Now is a perfect summer to rejuvenate a sense of community after two long years of a pandemic.  We can bring back people and families to these nice public locations.

Perhaps next summer, I can restart those local community gardens?  For now, I'll start the good vibes with a few neighbors, and "next towns over" at a time.  All it takes is just a handful of people to say "Yes".  It is always necessary to grow good things such as our gardens, our relationships, our communities, and our businesses.  When life is at its toughest, that's the fertile time to plant the seeds of hope and rejuvenation.  There's more purity in their purpose to succeed.

As I have said in my previous post, I desire to donate to my favorite charity Branches here on Eastern Long Island.  At a time when things are the hardest for many all of us need to do whatever we can to treat each other as neighbors and friends and lend a hand.  It's amazing how anyone can sit in a garden and contemplate some of the most simple life answers that are right in front of us.

If a handful of people on one block all decided to grow one different item.  Then that same handful of people shared their crop evenly with each other - just imagine all the positive energy that can build on one block?  Why can't we do the same with charity, friendships, and relationships?

This luscious red basil has doubled its size in width since this picture was taken a couple weeks ago.

 Above it and to its right side is the equally delicious Big Leaf Italian basil.

Food Is An Agent of Change

A Memorial Day masterpiece of fresh jalapenos "poppers" was a family affair in the making.  They were served alongside seasoned steak tacos and a jalapeno margarita.

"Food is an agent of change"

Jose Andres

 

by Zen Gardener, John

Last summer 2021, I started out with just about 10 or 12 vegetables, fruit, and herbs.  This year I have well over 100.  I call my garden, "Shibumi Garden" as explained in my previous writing. This is part of my "Mint, Mind, and Mingle" concept of getting positive-minded, local people together for readings, socializing, and sharing of good energy for our community.

One of the primary social ramifications that have been a result of my garden is how it has forged new bonds between me, family, neighbors, coworkers, and even strangers.  Every time I run into fellow gardeners at my favorite nursery, the Garden Department, talking with strangers is always a good vibe thing.  If you want to break the silence in any stuffy room, try mentioning how you grow your own herbs and spices - it's an instant conversation starter.

Even when you go on a vacation out of state, or out of the country, you eventually find yourself eating a food item that's locally grown and raised.  From there on, any dining conversation you have will surely transition to different aspects of things in your life.  It's inevitable that food brings people together.

This past Memorial Day weekend, I watched a mesmerizing, Ron Howard documentary for National Geographic, featuring the magnificent chef, turned humanitarian, Jose Andres. The documentary is entitled, "We Feed People."  It shows how Andres went from very humbling beginnings to a multimillionaire celebrity chef, to most recently, a world-class humanitarian. He has pioneered bringing food to disaster areas around the world and is currently using his World Central Kitchen organization in war-torn Ukraine. I highly recommend watching the eye-opening 15 minutes.

One of the biggest, and most powerful messages Mr. Andres says early on, is that "Food is an agent of change...Food is an amazing mechanism to change society in ways we don't know today."

I have witnessed how growing my own garden of herbs has become a powerful tool to bring people with good healing energy together.  We don't just feed our bodies and have a nice social gathering, we're also cultivating and nourishing our souls.  There is a high degree of self-empowerment in being able to grow your own food.  It builds up your self-esteem very quickly, which you easily share with others.

I have placed Venmo and Paypal buttons on this profile, to help raise money to donate 10 percent of the monies directly to my local community outreach organization, Branches.  I am also personally donating excess produce from my Shibumi Gardens to Branches.  Thus, all donations will go to both endeavors.  With your help, you will help me, help Branches, feed families throughout Eastern Long Island.  By defraying the costs of fertilizer, water, and pest controls for Shibumi Gardens, I will be able to host a few festive summer events with neighbors and vendors to help raise more funds for those same families.

I want to grow the concept of Mint, Mind, and Mingle, not just locally, but regionally, and eventually nationwide.  Our current economic times are going to get tough this summer.  But we have before us an opportunity to create a space where something positive can grow inside and outside for all of us.

Shibumi Garden

 

"Every day and moment we wake

And have a beat in our heart

Life gives us a paintbrush

To make our living our art.

We all start as seedlings cast in the wind

We have no choice in our birth

But our spirit can influence the middle and the end."

Zen Gardener, John

As we go through life, we all are given a spiritual "paintbrush" to shape the natural beauty of people and things around us, as well as within ourselves.

With the growing popularity of this blog online, and the positive conversations it has stimulated amongst family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers - I have had to consider a couple of things.  First, what name to refer to my garden and its peaceful energy.  Secondly, I wanted to create a lighthearted, and fun nickname that was more accurate about my activity.  I am not a farmer by any means.  I grew up in New York City. I'm really just a gardener now living in the suburbs outside of the city.

Since March, I have spent at least 15 minutes, twice a day peering or walking into my garden and meditating. My garden is a potted garden atop a deck extension, which naturally keeps my vegetables, fruits, and herbs away from the pesky deer that wander through my backyard.  From the seedlings, I started inside, to moving them outdoors and into the large cloth and plastic pots, it has been a very enriching experience.  It's a peaceful vocation.  I walk, stand, or sit and observe the gentle signals, aromas, and energy from the plants.  You can envision yourself sitting in Shibumi, or at sunrise on a beach, or driving home during sunset.

The plants tell you when they are happy and/or when they're not feeling well.  Their process of growth is universal and correlates to everything that we do.  From our families to our jobs, to moving into a new environment, there's always some form of growth and reaction to the things that nourish us in our environment.  That nourishment can be good, sometimes it can be detrimental.  Sometimes our environment can also be polluted with harmful things, that we later pass on to others.  This is why it's good to take 15 minutes and reflect on my garden and my own daily life.  It's uplifting to meditate and make sure that good things are passing through all of us, and that we continue to grow in some kind of way.

37 years ago, I read a book entitled "Shibumi" by an author with the pseudonym, Trevanian.  The book motivated me to learn the definition of Shibumi.  Shubumi is a Japanese concept that describes tranquility, balance, and harmony in a very eloquent way.  This is done without force, but with complete understanding.  This inspired me to now name my garden, "Shubumi Garden".

As for the playful nickname that I was using, "Farmer John," this seemed too oversimplified and not an accurate description.  The name Zen Gardener, John seems far more appropriate.  As large as my garden is, it is not a large "farm".  I in fact have only a simple garden by comparison to those out there with actual farms.

Lastly, this spring I have frequented a local, family-owned gardening store chain The Garden Department.  I have visited and spoken with many of the staff members there.  The staff is friendly, informative,  and more importantly very welcoming!  I have had many warm conversations with Victor "Vic" Caroleo, the second in the line of the four generations of family ownership.  The Garden Department family history is an amazing American success story.  Vic and his staff embody the professionalism of community and home gardening advisors.  They offer to help you in every way possible so that you have success in your garden or landscape.  I encourage everyone to click on the links and take a read.  I hope to continue my relationship with Vic, his family, and their staff.  They are an extension of those good gardening vibes every time that I go there.

Again, click on the links to find one of their chain stores near you, and visit back to my blog to see how positive an impact they have had on my Shibumi Garden this year.  See how you too can improve your landscape and garden through this wonderful family business!

Living My Art: Shibumi Garden.  All videos and photos are courtesy of JStergis

The Guardians of Our Garden

"The Guardians of The Garden"

by Zen Gardener John

These beautiful golden marigolds are part of my plan to use some natural plants as guardians of my garden.  Protect them from?  Various insects and animals, including deer, raccoons, squirrels, and an assortment of insects from aphids to members of the caterpillar and beetle family.  The only beetles I want to see in my vegetable garden are Paul, George, Ringo, and John singing a "Hard Days Night".  

After doing some reading, and comparing my efforts at natural at this last year, I decided to add a few more pest repelling plants this year. 

My list now includes marigolds (a mixed variety), lavender, rosemary, mint (7 varieties), oregano, sage (two varieties), and of course a handful of the 12 varieties of peppers that I have.  The extra hot spicy peppers help to naturally ward off four-legged pests.  However, these peppers ironically also attract six and eight-legged pests of their own.  Nonetheless, they are a helpful pesticide-free way of not adding toxic chemical solutions into my garden and my environment's groundwater.

Not so bad for a big city boy turned outdoorsman and now a Zen seeking gardener?  

Outside of using just hot pepper plants, all the strong fragrances of other plants are not just beautiful, but they also ward off many pesky animals and insects.  Although the legendary scents of lavenders, sage, and rosemary are well known for attracting humans, they also repel many pests - including deer and mosquitoes.

In addition, my new mint plants also have spiritually uplifting aromas that have found many uses in holistic and relaxing environments. My peppermint, spearmint, sweet mint, orange mint, strawberry mint, chocolate mint, and apple mint (seedlings) all have wonderful fragrances that reflect their namesake.  However, their beautiful fragrances tend to be too strong for most deer to put up with.

Lastly, Mother Nature has her own very effective guardians for our gardens.  These are usually in the form of spiders. Yes, I know.  For those of us who hate or fear spiders, this can be an enormous emotional challenge.  Especially when the spiders get excited and try to build whole apartment complexes.  However, they are nature's way of trying to weed out (no pun intended) some of the pests in our garden.  Give them names!  Helps with coping when you give them a personality (along with your garden plant names) and you will eventually begin to see their importance in the grand scheme of your garden.

I would like to know what you readers out there use for pest control?  Leave a comment below or email me at NYEastside.info@gmail.com.  

One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato, Four

One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato, Four

by Zen Gardener John

One of my newer additions to my garden inventory includes potatoes. Potatoes were originally harvested between 7,000 to 10,000 years ago in Bolivia and Peru and have several mythical stories surrounding their name.  They can now be found all over the world.  Potatoes are a part of many home dinner menus (baked, mashed, boiled) and a staple at almost every fast food restaurant or diner (French fries, curly fries, potato puffs, and once again...mashed potatoes).  

I decided to grow our ancient, but world-famous potato in my garden for fun.  There are four varieties (Yukon Gold, Purple Majesty, Red Pontiac, and Gold Rush White).  They have taken a strong liking to the fabric pot that I have placed them in and are growing pretty fast.

So what about sweet potatoes?  Well, as most growers know, sweet potatoes are distant members of the potato family.  Regular potatoes are "tuber" plants, while sweet potatoes are more of a "tuberous root" plant.  Sweet potatoes belong to the "morning glory" line of plants in the broad potato family umbrella.  They are also more enriched with vitamin A and have a lower glycemic rate in our body sugar levels than our regular potatoes.

My gardening challenge is that sweet potatoes are a tropical plant and need about six months to produce an adequate harvest.  It's May.  I'm a little late for July and August harvest.  Oh well.  I may decide to try anyway for an October harvest.  What's your opinion?  I would like to know.

These large, green leaves of my potatoes

Nothing Can Beat Home Grown Flavor

"Nothing can beat the delicious flavors

Nothing can beat the sweet-smelling scents.

As I walk through my garden and savor

My emerald fields of sensuous mints."  JStergis

Nothing Can Beat Home Grown Flavor

by Zen Gardener, John

Last summer I managed to start a chocolate mint plant from seed in a very large growing pot.  I'm using cuttings from last year's plant to start some more.  The rest of the seeds from last year have not successfully germinated.  As heavenly smelling as the chocolate mint, the sweet mint and spearmint plants that I started last year are, just yesterday I discovered a peppermint and orange mint plant from a local grower.  The fragrances from those plants - in particular, the orange mint, are outrageously relaxing and wonderful to our olfactory glands.

I had not heard of an orange mint, until yesterday.  I have had minor intestinal issues throughout my life that seem to flare up as I have gotten older.  Having plants with natural digestive medicinal value, such as mints, is a bonus.  They lessen the burden of me having to take over-the-counter drugs which do have negative side effects.

The more mint aromas, the better.  A good lemon balm, bee balm, or lemon basil plant is not far behind.  Mind you, those plants are also all part of the mint family.

Their sensuous smells lift you and put you into another time, another place.  This is a perfect environment or time to discuss gardening, and books, share simple recipes or share positive life solutions.  Perhaps bring your easel and we let some paint dry on our paper or canvas?  Whatever it takes to ease our minds and build positive community connections. 

The luscious leaves of my orange mint

An Early Start For Growing Everything

 

An Early Start

by Zen Gardener John

The view of the woods and sunrise I get from my backyard does not dismiss that I need to have an organized approach to achieving a successful crop of vegetables and herbs this spring and summer.  There has been an uptick in cost for pots and even now these seedling starters trays to germinate some plants indoors before planting.

Last year 4/5's of my garden was from starter plants from my local stores.  This year that has been reduced to about 2/3's to help reduce some costs and take better control of what exactly I want to grow.  I have even added a "grow light" to my routine for the starter trays indoors.  The seedlings have had a nice and cozy start indoors the past two weeks.  Any other recommendations from fellow growers living in zone 7, like I do here in New York?

Any fellow Long Islanders with suggestions on what to grow for this summer?  This is all going to be for a community-based outlet for people to share and find a peaceful social spot.  I have not ventured into any retail ideas as of yet.  But, I do believe that care and maintenance costs for my garden can be offset by having a nominal membership fee, along with having raffle prizes and fees for members to showcase their own arts and crafts.

Let's do this Long Island.  Let's grow not just vegetables, and fruits, but also our community, our business, and our souls.