I love mulch.
I'm one of those odd people who gets
ridiculously excited about the prospect of freshly spread mulch.
I love ordering it. “Double ground
hardwood, please”--even though, after all of these years of using
the same local company—I still can't understand the super nice
owner's extreme southern drawl.
Sometimes, I wonder exactly what I've
agreed to after talking with him.
The kids love mulch. As soon as the
truck dumps the mulch, the kids fly outside to Mulch Mountain—where
they climb, slide, dig, and generally wreck havoc on the mulch and
each other.
Our oldest son is not quite as
enthusiastic. He was summoned home from college this weekend to help
spread mulch. Well, actually, he's the fill-the-wheelbarrow-and-dump
guy.
Don't feel too sorry for him. He was
well-fed. And he earned much praise, because he really makes the
process so much easier.
I love the aesthetics of mulch. So
clean, so fresh. I love the smell of mulch, although my 6-year-old
said it smelled like something died outside. More importantly, I love
the organic benefits of mulch. Water retention. Weed control.
Increased soil health as the mulch decomposes.
The only glitch with mulching
is...perennials. Everywhere. This is the problem if you wait too late
to spread mulch. You can kiss the rake goodbye.
It's hand-mulching time.
Yes, for two straight days, I filled
tubs with mulch and carefully, carefully, dressed the perennials by
hand.
Two days. From early morning until last
light—which is now about 8 p.m.—I knelt, squatted, pliéd, and
bent in awkward positions to mulch my babies.
And I hurt.
A lot.
But it was worth it.
Look! Look! See what I did! (Please pretend you don't see the dandelion in the corner. Thank you.)
Even Sammy enjoys the new mulch.
Now, I know I'm not the only gardener
in the throws of heavy lifting, bending, and stretching in the
efforts to ready the garden for the season ahead. I just hope you are
more fit and less achy than I am. Perhaps you even stretch and such
before you begin gardening each day.
However, in case you, too, are feeling
less than spry after your gardening work, I have a treat for you.
It will make you happy.
It's a bath.
I rarely take a bath. The idea of a
bath is delicious. Soaking, peacefully, in a steamy tub sounds like
bliss.
However, I'm a mom.
The minute I contemplate a bath,
everyone needs something.
Right. Now.
“MOOOOM!”
You probably are too familiar with this
scenario. It just isn't worth it.
Most of the time.
As sore as I am, though, a bath is a
medical necessity.
So, my friends, I'm sharing with you a
lovely recipe for a bath, borrowed from Amy Stewart's charming book,
From the Ground Up: The Story of a First Garden. Have you read her memoir? If not, I highly recommend you take it with you
to the tub, read about her adventures as a first-time gardener, and
just soak. Both your body and your spirit will be nicely rejuvenated
after your bath, and you'll be ready for another day in the garden.
Gardener's Bath
1 cup oatmeal
¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup powdered whole-milk
Herbs (the recipe calls for dried
herbs, but I've cut fresh lavender, rosemary, and lemon balm to add
to the bath. Mint, comfrey, rose petals, and chamomile are also
options.)
Blend ingredients together in a food
processor or blender until you have a fine powder. The oats ease itchy
skin, and the fat in whole-milk powder moisturizes, while the lactic
acid gently exfoliates. Baking soda helps soften the skin and also
relieves itch.
In her book, Amy sprinkles the blend directly in the
bath. Instead, you could also minimize the post-bath clean-up by putting
the blend in a fine mesh bag, such as a lingerie laundry bag, and
letting it soak in the tub under the faucet to release the aroma.
Relax and enjoy!
XO ~
Julie
