give your stuff away day

            As I was out gardening on a beautiful, sunny day last week I had one of those moments where I needed something and wasted too much time looking for it. I was pulling out a bunch of vines and other green ‘stuff’ (I don’t know technical names) from my flowerbeds and I needed a shovel for digging up some of the biggest dandelions I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t find the shovel in the garage. Had I left it in another flowerbed? I walked around the house and looked. Nothing. It had to be in the garage. I looked again. There it was, huddled by the three snow shovels. What? I thought, WHY do we have three snow shovels, especially considering the winter we just had?

            I had the sudden urge to overhaul the garage as I looked around and saw endless toys, bikes, scooters, yard paraphernalia, a broken chair, tools, kites, and on and on. I think we could survive just fine with half of all that stuff. But throwing stuff—good stuff—away makes no sense, and then I remembered the annual event coming up in May that is officially known as ‘Give Your Stuff Away Day.’ It’s a huge recycling event, and something I’d love to see in every community.

            It’s so simple. On Saturday, May 12, just set items you don’t want out on your curb or in your alley and they’re free for the taking. You’re gifting items to someone who can use them and you’re uncluttering and you’re treading lightly on the Earth. It’s a triple win. Plus, the next day is Mother’s Day (a holiday I’m not crazy about but that’s a whole other column). What do I want? A clean garage. Thanks in advance to my family, who’ll help make that happen!

            Some ideas:

            Put a sign out that says ‘FREE’

            Electronics, tools, toys, clothes are all acceptable. Even plants and potted trees!

Nothing that’s been recalled, and no chemicals or paint (these go to the Household Hazardous Waste Center)

Check out www.giveyourstuffaway.com for more ideas.

Grounded in the Earth

           When my old house was on the Historic Home Tour several years ago, I had one of those ‘light bulb moments.’  It was the first time I met fellow column writer here, Holly Lindzy, as she traipsed through my yard taking pictures and then came up to me and asked, “are you the gardener?”  I looked back at her blankly, thinking “am I the what?”  Then I guess I mumbled that yes, I was the gardener. 

            And from then on, in part thanks to Holly’s confidence in my humble little garden and the fact that I could clearly see I was actually growing things, I’ve known I’m a gardener.  I love having my hands in the dirt, turning the soil, sticking in plants and seeds and seeing what happens. 

            I love my flowers and how right now my flowerbeds around my house are a sea of wildflowers—white Shasta daisies and purple coneflowers, that divide and spread with no effort from me. I’m also growing fruits and vegetables, and it’s such a thrill for me and my children to go pick some tomatoes—organic of course—right from outside our back door.           

            More and more people, it seems, are forgoing the grass, making gardens, and growing some of their own food on their urban or suburban land.  I’ve always preferred gardens to grass. A couple of months ago I was at a party and met two fascinating women that have transformed five vacant city lots on the near Eastside of Indy into a certified wildlife habitat, orchard, and organic heirloom gardens, complete with native plants and installation art. 

            I can’t wait to take a trip down there to visit, and just a couple weeks ago I was at (another) party at my friend Linda’s. Her backyard is gorgeous and inspiring, from the fairy swing hanging from the maple to a brick patio made with reclaimed bricks from her sidewalk that was replaced to a large vegetable garden and flowers throughout the winding paths.

            All of this makes me want to go get grounded in the earth, to plant more, to be the caretaker of something that is beautiful and thriving.  It’s good for the earth and good for the soul.