This week we have officially moved onto our new homestead and new folks have moved onto our former homestead. I’ve planted over a dozen gardens, but this one is sure hard to say goodbye to.
Spring lilac
Goodbye lilac. I always envisioned this tree as a version of myself in old age – tough, gnarled and yet beautiful. The buds would swell in late winter and my anticipation would build as it announced spring to me from the kitchen window.
Asian persimmon fruit ripening
Goodbye persimmon. I planted you with one of my best friends the first summer in our garden. A few years later I rocked Juniper in my arms while I watched the buds swell, leaves emerge and the first fruits form. You were my companion during the early mornings and late evening when I was learning to mother.
Bearded irises
Goodbye irises. You were given to me by my grandmother, the 4th generation Oregon Trail pioneer, from her garden. You helped turn our front yard into a welcoming entrance.
Columbines
Goodbye columbines. My Dad gave me these flower starts a couple years ago when he came back to the live stateside after years abroad. I think of him every time I see them and count my blessings to have such a loving family full of green thumbs.
I’ve come to realize we never own a garden – we are only stewards. We cultivate and care and tend. We break sweats, we bury tears and we lift sounds of laughter into the air above it.
We planted a lot of love in this garden. As excited as I am for the journey ahead with our new homestead, I’ll take with me forever the fond memories and homesteading lessons learned here.
Homestead at dusk
I would love to hear your stories about beloved gardens and your most sentimental corners of your homestead. Tell me about it in the comments below! And expect look forward to a fun summer of posts about building the new homestead.
When my wife, kids, and I moved out of our first house, I had a hard time adjusting to the new house. I had designed the new house and built part of it, so you’d think it would instantly feel like home. It didn’t. It wasn’t until we made new memories through many experiences that it began to feel like we belonged here. It took a long time. We had no lawn or outbuildings when we moved in, and the soil was horrible. Not a pleasant few years. It’s been a lot of hard work, but a great family adventure to improve our homestead. The last few years, my favorite spot has been in the garden, but this year it’s been at our new, small chicken coop. Seems like my sentimental corner changes every few years, but it’s always somewhere here at home, close to all the family.