Gardening Steps in PNG…. (At least how it works for me)

Step 1- Wait at least 6 weeks from when you weeded/attempted to plant something.  This allows plenty of time for weeds to grow and possibly some of the plants you wanted to, and a few you had no idea would come up. 

Step 2- Put your gardening tools out on your front porch.  Then go back inside and get your water bottle, sunglasses and possibly a hat.  This allows plenty of time for the neighbor girls to see that you intent to work in your garden today and for them to come out and start to work.  A great time to do this is 7:30 on a Saturday morning.  They are all up, and it’s not too hot for the white meri.   You never have to ask for help, and you really don’t expect it get it, but you will every time anyway. 

Step 3- Let go of whatever plans you possibly had for your garden.  This allows your neighbors to do what they were going to do anyway and you feel good about it.  If you thought it would be great to have a row of something at the front of your garden, be alright with those flowers to end up in the middle and just smile when they come up right in the middle of something else.  Giving a little direction in planting is fine, but be prepared for anyone at any time to run home, grab/cut some flower and come back and plant it where they believe it needs to go. 

Step 4- Decide on one thing you want to accomplish and do that.  This allows neighbor girls to do whatever else they think needs to be done and you still feel like you possibly accomplished one task and didn’t have them do ALL the work.  (Today, my task was to fill up with soil two large planters I received two months ago from the Deuel’s and plant something in them.  I did have a little idea of what I wanted to plant in them, but I was prepared to apply step 3 here as well.)

Step 5- Offer some refreshment at some point in the process.  This allows your volunteer staff to stop working for a moment so you don’t feel so bad that you need a break after only an hour of work.  Cold water is always appreciated, but if you have crackers or cookies, this works well too to allow you a few minutes to stand up straight and give your back a break. 

Step 6- Have fun, chat with the girls while you all pull weeds, shovel piles of dirt and pull out small rocks.  This allows you to work on your Tok Pisin, make the girls laugh and see plenty of smiles. 

I accomplished my task today, got the whole front of the house weeded and also got a unexpected new rose garden in place of my crazy patch of Zinnias (or possibly it will turn out that the roses are just in the middle of the patch.)  I also got all the girls names right for the first time! 

All steps applied and worked out great.  These steps were learned over a year and a half process.  Not applying all steps will just get you dirty, sweaty and worn out (and possibly a little frustrated.)  ;-) 

Isaiah 55:8-13

8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  ¹⁰ As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  ¹² You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  ¹³ Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.  This will be for the Lord’s renown,  for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”