Mrs. Gardener.

Many years ago, in the prime of their working lives, my friend and his wife decided that farming was not the way they wanted to spend their lives and so they sold the farm and bought a house on a five acre block on the edge of a large rural town. Building a large shed on the property and being a little mechanical minded and loving big toys, he decided that there was a market for a single operator business using an excavator and later a small Bobcat and so went into the earthmoving business from home. Which was great for him, but what about his wife?

Like her husband who used his abilities and preferences to start a new career doing something he loved, she decided to use her talents and love of gardening to turn the bare five acres into a veritable plant paradise.

Over this time she has bought, traded and acquired many, many plants and through her, many others including yours truly, have added new plants and colours to their gardens. She has used her gardening talents to not only make a garden that is an enjoyment to themselves but also one that others benefit from too. There have been a couple of open gardens there, with the proceeds going to local Charities; and many excess plants have been sold at Fetes and the such, to raise funds for worthy causes, plus she regularly supplies flowers for her Church and also for friends and family and even the occasional wedding.

Although there has been no need to turn this talent into a personal money making scheme, she has still been able to enrich the community and the lives of others through this practical use of her talents; so that both she and others get enjoyment and benefit from her love of gardening. Of course gardening is not her only interest or occupation, but one she uses to the benefit of the many, free of charge.

What about us? Are we as free to give, when we can, or do we see every thing we do only in terms of what it brings to us financially? Can we perhaps learn a little from Mrs. Gardener and use some of our talents to help others while at the same time extending and using our own special talents and loves? What say you? Walter