Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska

Wanda's Diary Entries

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

I’m about to dash out of the office just now, to go fetch my son Henry from his swim lesson. I’m a woman on a mission today. Today the seedlings to heirloom tomatoes go in the ground. The rhubarb plants were transplanted yesterday morning (because they were about to wilt from sitting in pots too long). But the good stuff happens today. After my friend Laura helped me Rototill a sizeable segment of lawn into a garden plot, after we folded in fertilized topsoil, the ground is ready to receive plants and to partner with the sun in spinning its magic. In just a few minutes, in will go broccoli, tomatoes, and parsley. Beets, lavendar and watermelon will come later. I’ve started keeping a detailed garden diary, noting every transplant, each cutting, every new idea.

This past Saturday, I spoke at two Earth Day celebrations—one in Winston-Salem, NC, one down the road a bit further in Charlotte. They were both great events, cornucopias with booths of products, samples and information about all aspects of eco-friendly living. I was in my element. Don Schumacher, director of sales at Simple Living TV’s national corporate sponsor, NCFI Polyurethanes, peddled to the Winston-Salem presentation on his bike. Tammy Byerly Flynt, my former field producer who left work here to get married, showed up with her husband Andy and her father-in-law Ben. It was old home week! Meredith Lloyd, the woman who replaced Tammy came with her husband and three children. After that presentation, a man congratulated me and remarked: “I guess Earth Day is your Christmas!”

I’d never thought of it that way, but of course he’s right. But instead of fooling with gifts and lights, I’m working with a hoe, rake and shovel and keeping an eye on the sky. What a fitting way to celebrate Earth Day. Working in the soil. Working with my hands. Celebrating the wonders of Mother Nature.