In Praise of Green Beans & Sweet Peppers

In a World of Worries and Wonder - Let it all be here & Reader Poll!

One of my favorite things to do is spend time at my friend’s beautiful farm. I’m part of a group of several women who come weekly to plant, weed, dig, mulch — right now we are in glorious late summer harvest. In the summer months we arrive early, before the heat is too high, and leave with muddy knees and dirt under our nails. We also leave with book suggestions, conversations about music, art, politics, family stories and a reusable bag full of whatever bounty was harvested that day. Right now, we are harvesting green beans, sweet and hot peppers, basil, dill, corn, tomatoes, zucchinis, cucumbers, cabbage, potatoes, pears, apples and brilliant bouquets of all kinds of flowers. Today a whole stand of glowing orange flowers was literally vibrating with the trembling of a hundred butterfly wings.

August in Indiana is a time when a single zucchini plant is producing so wildly it could feed a family of five - ok that is a bit of hyperbole, but not by much. It is that time of the year when home gardeners start leaving grocery sacks of tomatoes and cucumbers and green beans on neighbors’ porches under cover of night. It is that time of year when you can pull an ear of corn off the stalk and eat it raw it’s so sweet and perfect— and yes, in Indiana, summer sweet corn is totally a point of Hoosier pride - we don’t have the Eiffel Tower, but man oh man do we have corn.

I am constantly in a state of wonder when I’m at the farm and love that I  learn something new every single time I’m there — from the right spacing of sunflower seedlings, the best way to mound up and mulch potato beds, how to thin the new beets, radishes and carrots, how to know when the blackberries are at peak, how to haul a wheel barrel of hay without throwing out my back,  how to prune the apple trees, how to gently tie up the tomato plants as they sag heavy with ripening fruit, how to encourage the insects that help, and discourage the ones that will devastate a patch of cabbage. I love how Marcia teaches us (with the patience of St. Frances) all these rough and tender skills each week and is so obviously full to bursting with an abiding love for all things green, growing and for all the grateful human beings these offerings feed.  I love how Judy might stop in the middle of a sentence and say, “Listen, a scarlet tanager is singing”, or  alerts us to when the spring wildflowers are in full bloom and how gently she asks important questions.  I love how Sandrine will utterly light up when talking about her grandmother’s home in Switzerland or a new variety of heirloom squash in her own backyard garden, how Jenny always has a story, a book, information on nine million good community projects or an incredibly insightful perspective on things.  I love how when Kristina smiles from beneath her sun hat and cracks a wry observation, her beautiful eyes crinkle at the sides.  I love hearing all the “oohs” and “ahhs”  rising up from the potato patch by whomever is feeling around with their bare hands in the soil, because after all these years, we are all still charmed by each surprising spud discovery.  I love how Marcia’s husband, Bryan, visits us occasionally in the greenhouse, having loved and tended and worked the garden himself the rest of the week.   I love all the women. I love the seeds and seedlings and full grown stalks, branches and vines.  I love our muddy, happy dogs romping between the rows. I love it all, even when I’m sore or sunburned the next day.

Life has a way of becoming focused on our concerns, our troubles and regrets. Everyone you meet is carrying something. We also live in a time when commercial media focuses daily on what is scary, tragic, enraging or salacious -real or manufactured. How important it is to sink into what is so good in our lives and in our world. That doesn’t mean I don’t care or I’m not doing what I can to address what is hard or concerning in our world and in my own life. But what I am saying is that it is not the scary, tragic, enraging or salacious that sustains us —it is the unabashed goodness of life that grounds us, revives us, gives us the courage when courage is needed.

Let us sink into what is refreshing, enlivening and life-giving. Let us delight in our relationships. Let us strengthen our communities because half a tree is beneath our feet and half a forest is under the ground.

Our cares, concerns, sorrows and challenges will come. But let them live alongside the glory of a summer day, a moment in time when love, delight and awe makes our hearts expand. Let it all come and let it be, here in the garden, here wherever you feel most connected and grateful. Let us appreciate and cherish what matters most.

Let it all be here.

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Practice

Call or text a friend who makes your life better, who is a cherished part of that root system that keeps you grounded. You can make it brief - “Thank you for being you” or “You make me remember how good life is” or whatever you want to say. Or send a photo of something that you know will make them smile.

Question

Can you tell us about a place or times when you feel the wonder and gratitude in the course of an ordinary day? If you just want to shout out a name or place or favorite summer vegetable feel free :-)

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Gratitude

Thank you to everyone here at The Gathering of Spirits. You are also part of my cherished root system. A deep bow to all you supporting subscribers. You make this newsletter and gathering place of ideas and community possible.

Carrie

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Upcoming Events & Podcast Appearances

Much gratitude to Christy Berghoef for having me on her lovely Willow and Wheat Podcast. We had a great conversation about spiritual activism. I hope you’ll check out her Substack page and brand new podcast! You can check out her wonderful new Substack page here.

Wheat & Willow Conversations episode two: Carrie Newcomer

Reader’s Poll

I can't believe it's been two years since I started A Gathering of Spirits Substack community. I’ve really loved sharing new songs, poems, videos and thoughts on life spirit and creative living. Really, its been so amazing to be in community with you all. So much goodness of spirit, wisdom, curiosity and always being so thoughtful and decent with one another. Its been a great model of how online community can be connecting and not disconnecting.

I thought this would be a great time to get your opinions and suggestions. This survey is anonymous. I'd love to know what you think – it can be as long or as short as you want! You can find the poll below.