30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 6

"Farmer Girl" - mixed media on aquabord, 5" x 7"

Today I am back in the studio playground, adding a sweet farmer to my cadre of playmates!  

There is something about the soil which makes me sing inside.  Hands in it, shovel in it, making it through composting or buying bags of it at the nursery - it's all wonderful.

Our new property is small compared with our place in North Carolina.  Instead of an acre of lawn, natural areas, garden and trees, we have a smidgeon of lawn, a few palms, and enough space to walk around the house.  But that hasn't stopped me from farming.  Okay, so perhaps my new farm consists of potted herbs and a couple of tiny fruit trees, but I get the same deep satisfaction  working with soil on a micro-mini basis as I do on a grand scale.

Growing food is full of uncertainty!  So many variables - soil quality, sun, rain, temperatures, strength of the plants, viability of the seeds.  I tend the plants daily believing they will grow, flourish and provide.  And mostly they do.  But I've lost a lot of plants over the years.  Sometimes the weather is just more than a person can remedy.  And other times the human has forgotten to water the plants.  Each time, I am quite saddened by the loss of that little green life.

What's interesting about growing things is my complete willingness to dive in each year despite the uncertainty.  Or maybe because of it?  The satisfaction of having overcome all obstacles to pluck that first piece of fruit is more exciting than I can possibly describe.  

So if you find me in the yard dancing gleefully around my mango tree, be assured the first fruit has arrived and I am likely running off to buy yet another tree to plant in celebration.

This piece is available, unframed.  Inquiries: imajenation@gmail.com

Follow the 30 in 30 challenge at http://30paintingsin30days.weebly.com/

---