The Porch Garden Project

Nothing helps a garden refresh like an afternoon rain shower. The storm breaks; water falls on the leaves cleaning off dust and insects. The leaves then turn down, pointing the water towards their root systems. After the rains, freshly fed, the plants leaves turn back upward, continuing their collection of light. Rain water has other nutrients and minerals that purified water does not. However, afternoon rains are not always regular events. In some places, American’s cannot rely only on natural precipitation to hydrate their plants and instead pull water from city systems, wells, or irrigation channels. Rains may come periodically or seasonally, and in some cases, as deluges that wash off the top soil before it can be absorbed into the ground. In order to lessen the burden on city, irrigation, and natural systems such as aquifers, as well as, prevent some top-soil runoff, gardeners can install water reclamation or collection systems from which to water their garden, lawn, and in some extreme examples, have a naturally refillable, potable water source for their house.

The soil breaks, dampened by the early mists…
Stretching, breaking free, the sprout leaves.
Towards the sun, its first taste of light.
And at our first sight: the inner feeling of bliss.

Leafs unroll, spreading ever higher.
Upward green, downward roots, the plant fills.
And to our thrills, a bud appears.
Releaving our fears, the bloom fills our desire.

The bloom dies, though, fruit, under it hides,
And to our surprise, we see the first round.
The time is ripe for harvest, and that we do…
On that first taste, heard are our delightful cries.