Gardening-2010

Over the summer of 2010 Woman Well began phase two of a large gardening project, and since Borer Acupuncture works out of this community, and I'm a gardening fanatic, and I have a strapping 20 year old son named Dan, I was more than happy to volunteer mine and his time to help out. The woman in charge of the project has been designing and working the grounds for two years and was amazing, organized and very definite about what she wanted all of us to do.

Dan and I were assigned to transplant the Echinacea beautiful white and pink flowers shaped like the common name of Cone Flowers into the rain garden. Included in the rain garden was a Sambucha or Elderberry Plant which reminded me of an old sage. Historical use of this herb for flu and cold has been for centuries. Aside from the beauty of these plants, it was interesting for me to see the actual plant of the herbs I have been taking and suggesting to use for years. For instance, both echinacea and elderberry are wonderful herbs to use when you have a cold or are beginning to get sick. The elderberry herb kills viruses in the throat, while the echinacea is wonderful at supporting the immune system. There are many good company's which produce these herbs such as Eclectic Institute, Herb Pharm, Flora to name a few. Seeing these plants in person was like viewing an old sage because . . . See, I told you I was a little crazy about gardening.


So after digging, sweating and chatting away the morning with the other volunteers, the spiritual director of Woman Well Del Marie Gibney served a great lunch consisting of make your own sandwich with veggies, cheese, turkey, mayo, and mustard. Included was a choice of fruit a delicious lettuce and tomato salad, coconut macaroons for dessert for all of us. It was great to spend time in the garden with other volunteers and it was particularly satisfying to help improve and create a beautiful space where I work.