Liquid Sunshine

picking peas in one of the Learning Garden’s high tunnels

On a Friday morning, I picked fresh mint and lemon balm.

The light scent wafting up from my palms promised a cup of tea that would perfectly compliment the sky’s promise of rain, or as Morgan, our Therapeutic Garden Educator, called it “liquid sunshine.”

This week, I got to spend time with Morgan, Rachel, and the Lower Light’s Women’s Recovery Group. And when I say, “got to,” I want to emphasize how privileged I felt to spend the morning with these women. While the learning garden has an oasis-like glow on its own, it somehow felt more complete with their voices among the flourishing sunchokes.

Underneath a large tree and with wind chimes dancing in the background, we listened to the legend of the “Three Sisters,” the Iroquois’ legend of how corn, beans and squash came to be grown together. As Rachel read the legend, the women began to nod and offer small murmurs of agreeance as they heard the differences between each sister and how they uniquely supported each other.

The corn offers a sturdy stalk for the beans. The vining squash offers shade protection and moisture retention. The beans offer vital nutrients. Each plant, each sister, gives and takes.

The support between each woman was palpable. Whether it was during the planting of their own three sister’s garden, picking peas as the rain hit the high tunnel overhead or enjoying fresh pea bruschetta underneath the pavilion while a light misting from the downpour clung to our faces, they supported each other with laughter, understanding nods and softly-shed tears. Each woman gave what they could and took what they needed.

It was a day for everything calm and bright – liquid sunshine.