The Meadow

The most beautiful surprise this spring was a profusion of wildflowers. After the rains, the garden was transformed into a symphony of colors with its peak being April. One year ago, the property could barely support a few prickly weeds so this was a true tribute to organic gardening techniques.

We had raked thick mulch all over. This protects the soil, retains moisture and when it decomposes, it adds a new layer of rich soil. This was followed by a generous sprinkling of wheat, clover, and sweet pea seeds. The wheat is good for loosening compacted clay soil, while the clover and sweet pea are natural nitrogen fixers and boost plant growth. 

Not only did we have wheat, clover, and sweet peas, lupins, nasturtiums, and poppies bloomed along with a variety of spring flowers. These wildflower seeds may have been dormant in the local mulch that we had spread across the property. The flowers then attracted birds, bees and other pollinators, turning this once desolate land into a thriving and dynamic garden.

Some of the flowers were waist high and we carved a natural path to the market garden, popping a sweet pea of two or three in our mouths, taking in the fragrance of a bloom, and stopping in our tracks to appreciate this wild burst of beauty.

Now that April is nearly over, many of the spring flowers are fading. Wildly tall Queen Anne’s Lace beckons in the breeze, while the sweet peas are still sweet. We are quickly moving into summer, at which point we will ‘chop and drop,’ cutting down the meadow and leaving it to enrich the existing soil. Hopefully many of these plants will also reseed for a welcomed appearance next spring. 

Since those aphids won their battle, the chickens are eating a large dose of organic lettuce daily. Every time I walk from the vegetable garden and pass the chickens, they rush towards me in clucking anticipation. They have still not started laying eggs, but given their diet, the eggs should be nutritious! 

The cherry tomatoes we planted are now tall and flowering, promising a huge crop. I am not sure if aphids will take to these, but it looks like they have moved on to the kale. The zucchinis are abundant and the carrots are also almost ready. 

Our favorite so far are the beets. Sweet, delicious and filled with nutrients! We cleared out the romaine lettuce and rocket to plant some more summer vegetables including peppers, eggplant and squash. 

We also planted around the trees in the food forest. Aside from sunflowers, we planted acorn and butternut squash, and as soon as the seedlings are ready, we will add melon and watermelon to the areas around the trees. 

It is sad to see the meadow fade but this is the natural pattern of seasons here in Israel. Fleeting, this makes us appreciate their beauty even more.