Kinds
of Gardens
"When
all the Earth shall be a garden, then shall all the bodily world
become free..."
The Essene Gospel of Peace, Book3;
page 32
What does this mean? How can all the Earth become a garden?
To
answer that question, let’s start by looking at the definitions of
“garden.”
Garden can mean: A plot of land used specifically for the cultivation of flowers, vegetables, herbs, or fruit. It can refer to grounds laid out with flowers, trees, and ornamental shrubs and used for recreation or visual pleasure. This definition is often used in the plural: public gardens; botanical gardens. In Britain the word, garden, refers to the yard or lawn that defines a person’s or family’s space and gives them the sense of privacy and possibly, protection from the outside world. Sometimes a fertile, well-cultivated region that offers a sampling of Earth’s abundance is referred to as a “garden.”
So a
garden can be a source of cultivation, recreation, visual pleasure,
protection and/or abundance. Taking all these definitions into
consideration I would say that, Yes, all the world can become a
garden. Even the structures that we create for our habitation and
our employment can become gardens. Does this mean that we have to
have plants in every room of every edifice? Not necessarily, but it
implies that we should be cognizant of our need to maintain our
connection to nature in every aspect of our lives. How can we do
this when we are expected to spend so much of our time in front of
computer screens, often in buildings that don’t even have real
windows that can be opened to allow so much as a drop of natural air
to enter our environment?
An indoor garden can be created simply by putting a planter box in front of a window that receives the sun for at least six hours a day. Such a garden could consist of seasonal flowers, herbs or even vegetables, whatever the gardener most needs. I have been growing lettuce and beet greens in a southern-facing window of my house during the winter months in Western Pennsylvania for the past two years and am happy to report that I have had a supply of greens throughout the winter season. Even if you don’t get six hours of sun a day, a single “grow lamp” over the boxes will take up the slack when necessary.
Even
the smallest patio or deck can be turned into a fruitful garden by
using pots to grow vegetables and herbs. Several years ago a friend
of mine grew a variety of vegetables using the principles of
biodynamics on her patio and was able to supply herself and her
husband with a variety of the best possible produce during the
spring, summer and fall months.
Roof
gardens have become a popular way of bringing a connection with
nature to the city. Check out this website
www.ecobusinesslinks.com/green_roofs_green_roof_garden_design.htm
to learn about some amazing examples
of this type of gardening.
Herbs
and sprouts can be grown right in your kitchen. Sprouts are such an
easy way to get a lot of nutrition and a few little pots can supply
you with your favorite herbs all year round.
Check
out these websites for more information.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2030773_grow-sprouts.html
If all the Earth shall become a garden we must
also consider the gardens of our hearts? The Essene Gospel says that
“barren deserts are turned into beautiful forests only through
water.” Perhaps barren hearts can be turned into beautiful gardens
also, through Love.
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