Everything Has Layers!

As you can see from this picture, I try to use everything that I have! The sticks I'm saving so that I can use for wood in my fireplace (I still have to have the fireplace built and installed yet - LOL!

I can also use these sticks as stakes for my garden vegetables and some of the sticks are shaped nicely enough to make a nice wand (or two!)

Of course the bucket is going to be recycled and used for something else.

If you're wondering where the sticks came from - they are from an maple tree that is in the front of my house. When the weather gets really bad and there are storms, some of the branches will break and fall!

I'm thinking that there are so many things that I can use these sticks for and I have much more than you see here gathered up!

It's been raining like crazy and my garden needs some tending to but at least I DO have a garden that I am tending to this year. What makes it even better is that I still have some time to plant some more things as well!

Also I'm on the lookout for pumpkins too!

I'm Back In My Garden Again!

Yes, I'm back in my garden again this year! As you can see, here is a copy of one of my planted beans that I took last year but what is so good about this is that this looks just like the bean plant that is growing in my garden now! I guess this really does make me a "green" witch afer all! - LOL!

I have come to find out that while I am on my journey of witchcraft and being a witch, I am finding out other things about myself as well!

I enjoy gardening and I enjoy cooking and while I love working on my computer I also have come to appreciate what nature has to offer! I love seeing the "green" that is surrounding me at this time of the year and it provides a nice moment of relaxation when I'm drinking my tea!

I think that we should all learn to relax more! Stress is really something! There have been times that I have been so stressed that I actually believe that I have made myself ill!

This path that I am following is showing me a more spiritual side of myself - one that I should and am getting more in touch with. It's like I'm being told that there is more to witchcraft than just doing spells and I am getting that message quite clear! In fact I haven't done a spell in a while - how about that? But that doesn't mean that I'm not going to in the future - it's just that in my journey I have found that there is more to being a witch than just doing spells! For me, I think that it has a lot to do with knowing one's self and not trying to impress others - just know yourself and be true to yourself!

I initially started this blog because I wanted to give those who are interested and/or new to becoming a witch and witchcraft an insight into one's journey into such but I am finding that I am learning new and more things everyday! I know that the most important lesson that I have learned so far is that it is not ALL about just doing spells!

I Think That A Rainy Day......

I think that a rainy day is good for one's soul!

I happen to be fortunate that I can work from home and for this I am very grateful!

It has been raining on and off since yesterday and this is good for my garden. It is good for me also because I was actually able to start my garden this year and have already planted some vegetables like beans and peppers.

I decided to start my garden and try not to worry about the things that are bothering me while I continue to work on solving my problems.

My garden also relates to one of my chosen paths as a green witch and kitchen witch. You see I have already harvested some garlic chives from my garden and I used it in some of my pasta sauce! What a great feeling it is to be able to add something from the garden that you grew yourself into the food that you are cooking!

I plan on having a great garden this year!

Also this rainy day gives me a chance to catch up on some work that has to done inside my house as well - both professionally and personally!

Deciding to take my chosen path as hedgewitch has shown me to take a deeper appreciation of nature! While some people may consider rainy days dull and dreary I have the feeling that it gives nature a chance to nourish the elements and to an additional extent - my own soul as well! For right now I am enjoying a nice hot cup of tea with classical music playing in the background as I work at the computer and catch up on my email and my professional work as well.

I know that some of those who are new to or interested in witchcraft think that it all has to do with spells and magick but to me this isn't the entire meaning of it. For me I think that there is a deeper meaning in that one has to get in touch with one's soul - working on yourself from the inside before you start working on the outside things.

Until next time

Blessed Be!

I Started My Garden!

I don't have any pictures to show yet but I have started my garden!

Outside I have replanted some turnips (at least I think they are turnips - LOL!) that a neighbor gave me. Today's rain should help them along quite nicely!

Inside I have started planting some seeds to start growing inside before I transplant them outside.

As I was looking at my outside garden today I noticed that I have a lot of tree branches that fell from one of the past storms and I have been saving them all! Ultimately I want to be able to use some of them in my fireplace - when I have my fireplace(s) - LOL!

There are lots of things that I have been finding outside! I found some pine cones that I used in my Christmas decorations last year and I decided to save them.

I mention this because part of my chosen path has to do with being a green witch and to me that means using and utilizing all that nature has to offer - surely an abundance of tools and materials are at my fingertips and I am going to use them all!

Onions And Garlic

As I was preparing my turkey earlier this morning I got to thinking about the onions and garlic that I was going to add to the turkey and came to realize just how many things that onions and garlic can be used for!

I mean it can be used for a lot of things when I'm cooking and I use them in my stews and soups and salads!

I also want to be able to grow them in my garden but so far I have only successfully managed to grow garlic chives (but don't worry, I'm going to try again next year!)

It also reminded me that I am also a kitchen (as well as green) witch and I felt exactly like this when I was preparing my turkey! All the spices and other ingredients that I was adding to the turkey, chopping and cutting and peeling in my nice warm kitchen on a gorgeous (though chilly) sunny day!

All I need now is a warm, open hearth!

A Picture From My Garden - Finally!

Well I finally got to posting a picture from my garden here!

This is a picture of one of my bean plants growing against the cement of the outside garage wall! This picture was taken back in August (I think) and it looks pretty healthy as far as how it is growing.

As of now the plant is still growing but no beans to harvest yet!

I planted some other things as well, such as corn and tomatoes and hope to use them with my cooking!

The picture by far is not the only thing I planted but at least it is what I took a picture of - LOL!

Hopefully more pictures will be forthcoming!

We have been having a lot of rain in the Philly area and the temperatures are getting cooler so I'll see how the rest of my garden turns out!

Herb - Mint

Mint can be used in spells to help your prosperity, healing and creativity.

I have grown this in my garden before but never knew of all the things that it can be used for!

Herbs - Lemon Grass

Lemon grass is an herb that can be purchased but you can also grow it on your own. I found out that you can take the stalks that you buy from the store and put them in water and when the roots start to grow (about 2 weeks) you can then plant them in the ground.

I have not grown any of this yet but I plan to! (Hopefully I will be putting pictures of my garden here)

It can also be used in teas and is known to help one's psychic abilities.

It can also be used in spells as well!

Of course I have a garden and I just can't wait to start to grow this herb.

Related Links:

• Herb Lemon Grass

I Started My Garden Today!

Actually I just started clearing some ground for my gardening but at least it is a start! I was out back emptying some trash and I looked at where I had my garden last year and it reminded me of how much I enjoyed gardening. So I said 'Problems be darned!' and started the first steps at starting my garden this year!

Today was one of those days where the sky was gray and it looked like it was going to rain so I didn't have any bees to worry about and I had just got a new hoe last year! So I started to dig and weed a clear space to start.

Now I am ready to plant something!

I also didn't have my camera with me when I started weeding but I will take some pictures and start posting them here!

Having and tending to a garden of one's own is so enjoyable as long as you don't let it stress you out. I have learned that the slowest way is the quickest way to learn and I look forward to working on my garden a piece at a time!

I should also remind people that gardening is a very good way to be in touch with nature! I was cutting hedges the other day and just being outside made me feel great!

Update

May 2011

I just wanted to add that I have started my garden again this year but I'm going slow at it because I have been worrying about other problems that I have been having. I'm coming to the conclusion that I am just making my problems more worse by worrying about them.

I have started planting outside and I have some seedlings inside that I want to grow a little bit more before I transplant them outside.

And I also want to start an herb garden as well!

Spring Is In The Air..............................

Even though my favorite time of the year is autumn I can't help but notice that spring is in the air! You can tell by the warmer weather and the grass and the buds on the trees!

I was reminded of this while I was out earlier today gathering the trash for the trash pick-up. Besides noticing the warmer temperatures it gave me a chance to look at the remnants of my garden. There are of course lots of weeds and some debri that has to be cleaned up but that is getting to be part of the fun of having a garden!

While I will be planting and growing vegetables I'm also thinking about the herbs that I want to plant this year as well! And I'm thinking about the herbs that I plant going into the food that I will be making too!

I just want to try everything!

I Started My Garden!

I was looking at my gardening notes (yes I keep notes (-: and saw that I haven't had a garden since 2003! 4 years! A lot has gone on in my life in those 4 years and I can see why I wasn't doing any gardening. But to turn this into a happy post I started planting my first seeds in the past few days!

This is quite an accomplishment for me and I'm very excited to have started my garden again! It gives me more meaning now since I have taken the path of a hedge/green/kitchen witch. I mean really - shouldn't a hedge/green/kitchen witch have a garden!!!!!!

My first planted seeds are just a few vegetables but I plan on planting something like every two weeks. (Hopefully I'll post some pictures here of my garden). Excited as I am I just want to plant everything but my past experience with gardening has shown me that having patience is the best thing.

I'm thinking of having a true witch's garden which just means that besides having a lot of different things planted, the things that I plant I will use also in my cooking and my spellwork which brings me to the subject of herbs.

I can just imagine harvesting my herbs! Gathering the harvest and wrapping them together with string.......................

I have a good sized area for my garden and have a section for herbs and a section for vegetables and I'll plant flowers and the like at different corners or areas. But one of the most important things that I have learned about gardening is that it takes patience. There will be a lot of maintenance but there will also be a lot of fun times watching them grow, picking and harvesting them.

I don't know how many of you out there have gardens or are thinking about starting a garden but I would highly recommend it! Not only is it relaxing it also teaches one patience and gives you more appreciation for nature and what goes on with nature. When I'm out in my garden I like feeling the breeze and looking at the trees and just hearing the sounds of the neighborhood. All of this does wonders for your soul. And when your soul is at peace so are you.