Two Weeks

This time two weeks ago many of my dear friends were helping move into the house. As we were greeted by kids & adults it warmed my soul & I knew this is where we are supposed to be.
These past two weeks have been incredible. Many lovely new relationships are forming & lots of dreaming is happening.
I am a dreamer. I am also a doer, so thank God I can't find a job right now other wise I dont know when I would fit in all the little activities & tasks I have given myself. I do have to say for only being here two weeks I just realized that quiet a lot has been accomplished! The house still needs some unpacking but we are getting to it slowly & surely.
One of the tasks of this past week since the last post was to acquire the necessary things for the backyard garden to happen. The plants were ready to go in the ground since I had planted them in tiny containers prior to the move in. On Friday Malissa & I went to the garden store in the neighborhood. I got lots of flower seeds for both the backyard garden & the community garden up the street. Also got some marigolds because apparently the bugs like to eat those so we are hoping they will stay clear of the vegetable plants & picked up some mushroom compost to mix with the dirt I already had.
Last night I finished the backyard garden bed!
I'll walk through the process in case you have small space & would like to grow some vegetables to share. The kids are pretty excited about this, plus its a really beautiful & unique experience to watch something grow out of the ground after putting a tiny seed in the dirt! (I still geek out over this & I'm "grown up")

Scavenged in the alley for some found wood to make the bed, also laid down cardboard to keep the weeds out:

Filled the bed w/ soil & mushroom compost to transplant my little seedlings into:
(Kender likes to be doing whatever I am doing, of course)

This is our backyard- I'm dreaming big but there will be some more beautification projects in the future that the kids can help with

Finished (for now, more beds/boxes/planters to come later)

On another garden note- last night after house dinner Lauren & I rode our bikes over to the community garden up the street. My new friend Elizabeth who stays at the Joshua Center next door was out there watering when we arrived. She has really taken to the garden because it gives her some space for peace & quiet to be alone. Also brings her back to her roots of being outside & gardening when she was younger. I really appreciate her & am so thankful for our relationship that is forming. Elizabeth also came to the work day on Saturday that I hosted, we only had one other person show up but none the less the plants are growing! Any grassroots project or effort takes time & we are ok with that. Its good to have a desired goal but I think for us the main focus is relationships & if transformation comes through the experience of growing food together then we will rejoice in that.

Elizabeth w/ the cantaloupes&pumpkins

Crystal was so excited to be gardening for the first time, her daughter came a few weeks ago to help us plant on our first work day! She also runs the Fresh Market @ Breakthrough Urban Ministries. Hopefully if we have extra produce from the garden it will go to Fresh Market for people to take home :)

Finally got stakes for the tomatoes to lean on, they are growing so great after the hail storm

The garden is doing so well considering how hot it has been here in Chicago the past few weeks. Malissa & I are doing some brainstorming about how to get more people involved, the first thing we are thinking of it getting the girls who helped us plant to paint a sign for our community garden so people actually know we are there! Otherwise we will keep weeding, watering, & working with the few who are interested. Hopefully things will start flowering in the next week or two!

One last thing has been on my mind a lot the past week- Sierra.
She could have her little baby girl, Nevaeh, any day now. We are hoping not until after the babyshower that is next Saturday. Should be a really fun backyard celebration, I am making cupcakes for it :)
Sunday night Sierra sat in the living room with us & told lots of stories. I really love that she is growing fond of us. She jokes about hating my cooking because its so healthy & has no meat but she is always coming up for something, she knows its good for her & the baby. I can't wait to meet that little girl.

Other than the house/garden updates I have just been taking care of buisnessy things the past two days. Should be receiving the grant money soon & will be able to start renovating the basement into a working space & darkroom! Can't wait to be able to develop & print photos at home. Also want to come up with a program or classes for kids on my block or in the neighborhood who are interested in photography (long term goal)
Thanks for reading!
Go in peace to love & serve.