May/June 2017 Shepherdess Voice

A quick inventory of the freezers and jars helps
“A prudent man foresees the evil,” and gets
ready for the evil days (Proverbs 27:12).
us decide which vegetables to emphasize in
this year’s garden: no more Jerusalem
artichokes needed, still plenty of frozen
Like salvation and soul winning, gardening
requires that we cooperate with our Creator.
zucchini, but our canned and dehydrated
tomatoes are running low. The local farm
Faithfulness in the little duties of watering,
weeding, thinning, and pest control will bring
supply store has the best prices for seed per
ounce or pound, and the Amish raise good
rich rewards while giving us many spiritual
object lessons. Because we share our
starter plants for us. Adding large amounts of
manure, leaves, grass clippings, and other
vegetables and advice, our friends have also
begun gardens of their own.
organic matter every year will improve both
clay and sandy soils.
Gardening provides better exercise than the
gym, plus you’ll receive the added benefits of
We use a modified “bed and path” system with
the “beds” of dirt one to two feet wide,
sunshine, fresh air, deeper sleep, and organic
produce! Remember, God met Adam and his
depending on the vegetable, separated by
paths about 18 inches wide. This gives plenty of
wife each evening in the garden. Don’t forget
to meet Him there!
room for Bela to run the Mantis tiller down
each path for most of the growing season.
Gardening prepares us physically, mentally, and
emotionally for these last days. “Again and
again the Lord has instructed that our people
are to take their families away from the cities,
into the country, where they can raise their
own provisions; for in the future the problem of
buying and selling will be a very serious one”
(AH 14)