February 5

We are stewards of our gardens. The things we plant, the practices we use, where we dig, will affect our garden, and our garden will affect the world around it. The tide of history and the forces of climate change may seem inexorable, but even in the desert, oases exist. Gardens with trees are cooler. Rain gardens and water retention features can soak up flooding and slow runoff during flooding. Biochar from deadfall dug into beds can support soil health and retain moisture. Pollinator plants and plants that feed beneficial predators can support biodiversity. Plants that support insects, support birds. Mulch and hugelbeds can even out the swings between too much rain and when it's hot and dry. When we choose to make compost from our own garden, we import no unknown contaminants. 

And remember a chair, where you can sit and rest. 

We can be stewards only of our own gardens. When the tides are dark, an oasis is both a refuge and a place of rest to the gardener and in itself a practice of self-care.