I recently started following The Canadian Pioneer Woman on Facebook. She has helped me to reconnect with the power of pioneering, in its true spirit!
She is so fun, so informative, and embodies everything I want to do with my little garden and now, gardening blog. Just like the pioneers, she will take anything and everything possible that she has on hand and make the best use of it. Granted, what she has at her disposal is different than what the pioneers had, but that’s why she embodies the true spirit and power of pioneering!
Rewind.
When we lived in Colorado, my husband was the director of a food bank in Golden (feel free to check it out if you’re in the area!). There was often more food than they could give away and store for the next time, so he would bring the over-abundance home for our family and also for the neighbors. The flower pics at the top of this post came from there.
During that time I got a crash course in making:
- Fresh homemade juices.
- Apple cider in varying fruit and spice mixes.
- Different combos for pie recipes.
- Preserving frozen food.
- How to prepare non-traditional meats (like beef cheek, and tongue!).
- And of course, making jams and jellies.
Phew!
I often thought it would be helpful to others if I made videos showing the best utilization of foods that would have otherwise gone into the trash. But . . .
- The kitchen was too small and not modern enough, not video-friendly.
- What did I know anyway, wasn’t there a “right” way to do this?
- I barely had time to clean up the kitchen and prep the food let alone make a video of how I did it.
Oy vey. So many reasons to say no. Imagine if I had just done it. Part of the true power of pioneering is that perfection is not the end goal. Self-sustenance, and helping others is the end goal, and a side result would be creating a legacy for future generations.
I did create a short video for a friend of mine who lived several states over. The experience, although quick, was fun!
Fast forward almost two years, to the present day.
I want to do everything perfectly. And, usually, the mistake I make in the garden is one I think I should have known better than to overlook. So I don’t post things I’m embarrassed about.
Looks like I’ve already forgotten the quote on a posting from Clare Norman MCC (Master Coach & Mentor). It was just the encouragement I needed to get started with this blog:
“There is of course a mindset thing going on here too. I got over the nerves of “what will people think” years ago.”
That said, I don’t think I’ll ever be the person who truly doesn’t care what other people think, and I also think Clare would share the same sentiment. We live in a world where we should care about one another, and that includes how we relate. But I should never let “what they think” stop me from being my true authentic self.
What does that really mean? You ask. Well, for me, it means that if I want to encourage you and I don’t know the exact right words, that’s ok. I’ll hope for the best, say a quick prayer for guidance, and then go ahead and share my heart with you – for your good.
- What I share in love to you, is likely born out of a relationship that you and I share deeply, or perhaps are just beginning to build.
- What I say, or the hug I give, is probably just the thing you need to hear, or feel, or know.
- If I think about it too long, I’ll probably say or do too much. Or worse, say and do nothing at all!
Most of the time, those needing encouragement just need to know they are heard. Or, that you are there for them. And, most importantly, that you care. Encouragement doesn’t have to be perfect. But it does have to be shared. It never truly falls on deaf ears, and if the recipient happens to have a full “pantry,” the encouragement can be stored up for later use.
As to the Canadian Pioneer Woman? We don’t know each other. Even so, she encourages me by just going for it. She encourages me by acknowledging her mistakes. AND, she encourages me by celebrating the wins, no matter how basic or small, and no matter how imperfect. In true fashion, exhibiting the power of pioneering, she’s in it for the long haul and for the joy of it. What a legacy she is creating in the pursuit! I encourage you to visit her page and glean from her whatever you can!
This week, via her inspiration, I dehydrated some veggies! I’ve done ginger and turmeric but never considered these. We had about a day left to use up the spinach or compost it. This is even better! I can use it in drinks when I want and not based on when the refrigerator life of the spinach runs out. The dehydrated carrot actually came from peels, and the cabbage was the outer leaves that I would have normally composted. Instead, I washed them well, put them in the oven, and here you have the results!
Dehydrated peels from two carrots
Spinach: dehydrated leaves from 2/3 of a full bag
We all help each other. Sometimes just by living our lives authentically.
Need some scripture verses to get you going? Most importantly, as believers, we all need and rely on the Word of God to get us going and keep us going. There are so many. But here are just a few:
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3, NIV
“Who (has) despised the day when little things began to happen?”
Zechariah 4:10a, NOG
This scripture has also been expressed as “Despise not the small beginnings.” Yes, taken out of context, but it definitely can apply here. God’s word can provide encouragement in many ways.
Happy are those who don’t listen to the wicked, who don’t go where sinners go, who don’t do what evil people do. They love the Lord’s teachings, and they think about those teachings day and night. They are strong, like a tree planted by a river. The tree produces fruit in season, and its leaves don’t die. Everything they do will succeed.
Psalm 1:1-3, NCV
What is burning in your heart to do? Just get started. The journey is well worth it.
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