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Health & Fitness

Gardening Independence – Dropping an 18th Century Bomb!

Independence Day marks that celebrated holiday when Americans recall the struggle for freedom and declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.  How exciting to be free from tyranny, free from taxes and free to self-govern.  Sounds good to me – but did you also know that during the 18th century it was common practice to send your children off into apprenticeships with master tradesmen?  Far from barbecues, picnics and sparklers – 18th century 8 year olds were sent to live away from home and learn their trade for an average of three years.

The growth of developing gardening and other trades was growing as fast as the colonies and training the future farmers and gardeners of America was not taken lightly.  I can’t even begin to imagine my 8 year old leaving home to work as an apprentice until fulfilling contract – sometime around that mature, grown-up age of … 11!  My 8 year old likes to sleep late in the summer, play tag in the yard and pick produce from the garden at her leisure (well, more like when her mother tells her too) but surely not by the demands of apprenticeship.

I am so grateful to be able to share the lessons, joys and challenges of the gardening trade with my children in celebration of their liberties without enforcement of hard labor.  I love discovering the secrets of agricultural success and savoring the fruits of our labor together – not by sending them away to earn their keep.  I am indebted to those Americans that have sacrificed their lives to ensure that in America we are free to grow our own food, free to sell and free to donate or potluck our harvests. 

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This 4th of July I will also celebrate the fact that my children are free to sleep in and free to complain about weeding the garden – while I am free to wake them gently, teach them about character and remind them to eat their vegetables.

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