Today is the 40th Birthday of Alicia Bay Laurel’s artistic homesteading manual, Living on the Earth. So many of my childhood homesteading dreams were fueled by my parents copy of this wonderful book that I was delighted to discover an accompanying folk album she recorded called Music for Living on the Earth. It’s an earthy collection of songs about waking up early, going about your chores, growing food and pondering the meaning of it all.
This gardener’s song often goes through my head when I’m out planting seedlings and turning soil.
Chard and Chives
by Alicia Bay Laurel
I’m going out to do a dance in the garden
I’ve got a space cleared out to plant a gift of love to everyone
The garden—I hope it feeds everyone
But, in the meantime, it gets me out in the sun.
Each little seed I planted with a sweet love song
Each little weed I killed I hoped it came back as a fruiting tree
Oh garden—please pardon my ignorance
I’m a city girl just learning to listen to plants.
All of the pits and peels that went into the compost
Come back as comfrey, kale and carrots, a row of beans and mustard greens
And lettuce—be thankful for garlic, chard and chives
May our salad days last the rest of our lives
Whenever I’m down and blue I go to my garden
And soon I’ll be singing and acting goofy as a girl in love for the very first time
Oh garden—I love the way you set me free
Hope I grow for you the way you grow for me. “
Love you!
You too! Thanks for the thyme tincture!
thank you, for sharing!
So wonderful!
Oh, thank you for this! Living on the Earth was my dearest inspiration for many years. This is so beautiful! May your garden be fabulous this year!
Blessings!