Planting and Pandemics

Scene from my porch last summer...

I'm taking a break from getting some planting finished. We won't be building the raised bed garden for over a week but I am getting a few flowers planted in the front yard and tomatoes in the area of the former compost pile. The rhubarb is planted on the other side, possible as our original compost pile was long and close to a fence (also in one of the few sunny areas of our backyard).

We were going to plant something else there but realized it would be a good idea to have the tomatoes growing now. Wal Mart has two heirloom tomato plants! I bought one of each heirloom plant and one Better Boy. I'll plant some Sweet 100's later, since they won't be hurt by planting late (or so she says...).

I've been buying a few perennials each year since we moved here. Last year I planted two peony bushes by the fence line. They were just sticks, purchased for a couple dollars on clearance. Both "sticks" have "taken" and I am anxious to see what the peony bushes look like. I have another in the back yard that was here already.

I bought a blue Phlox plant for the area in front of my porch. I'm hoping one big plant is all I need since I have a couple other perennials there and I plant annuals there, too. We'll see... I will eventually add a couple geranium plants and a hanging planter of some kind on the porch. I like various colors on the deck but I've decided my porch this year is going to be very peaceful... reds and blue for color and lots of greenery.

I'll plant the deck containers later... the porch and the raised bed garden must take preference for the gardening budget this year. Although, I love how it looked last year (my header for the blog is a picture of the deck from last summer).

While I'm new to most veggie gardening, I've often grown tomatoes and herbs. I've been "visiting" a few blogs where they have pictures of their raised bed gardens. I had three tabs up next to each other last night, all on Manuela's blog. :)

As for the pandemic part of this blog, I thought I should clarify a little after reading a few comments. I truly believe God is in control and I am not stocking up out of fear. I've been writing for years now that living the "pantry lifestyle" is how I was raised as well as the most frugal way we've found of living. If you haven't read Rhonda's (down-to-earth) post, it pretty much saying the same thing... it can be found on the sidebar and here. She always has the best and most practical information.

I guess I can understand why the government is reacting like it is, especially after doing even more reading. As I understand, it is the first time they've come across a flu that is a combination of swine, avian, and human viruses. I listened to a researcher being interviewed on a PBS show who admitted they don't know if it will remain mild or eventually get much worse.

Hubby and I take it seriously, having heard horror stories from both sets of parents (just as someone else had commented) about the 1918 pandemic. Of course, we have so many more opportunities now to receive information and health care. The only thing different we're doing is to wash our hands more when we're "out and about", which is not a bad idea given all the colds around us!

I'm reminded of a Weather Channel documentary about California earthquakes. They reminded viewers that warnings were given about the possibility of planes being used by terrorists and no one thought it would happen. Then they said scientists warned that New Orleans could be flooded by a hurricane and people "in power" disregarded those warnings. They went on to say Californians know the probability of a big earthquake is there and many still don't take time to prepare.

We've been told for years that a world wide pandemic is not only possible but probable. I don't know that this is it. It could stay mild or come back worse this fall. Only God knows and He is in control. I tend to be more concerned about the economy and even then I'm not worried. I am being cautious about any expenditures and not going into debt in case the economy gets worse... practical and sensible decisions.

Having lived through over a year (twice) with no income, I know God is faithful and provides. Living now as we do on one Social Security check (having lost all of our savings, in every form, when my husband was not able to work for long periods of time)... we have seen amazing provision.

I'll balance my morning quiet time (which I've missed for a week now!) with deepening my pantry. Our decision to plant a raised bed garden was made a couple months ago, to add fresh veggies to our diet... long before the flu made the news. I enjoy this lifestyle and if it helps us be a little more self sufficient... that's a wonderful byproduct.

I'm not worried about the future. He already knows everything that is coming. He's been there through wars, and disease, and famine, and political unrest, and earthquakes, and terrorism... through it all.... always Faithful.