I love this time of year! Probably one of the main things I enjoy about spring and summer is growing so many different vegetables and flowers. I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with different ways of growing plants, sometimes trying what I read or heard, or just experimenting with something to see what happens! Since I’ve always used an all organic approach to my growing techniques, I also plan ways to defeat the various pests and ‘critters’ that would enjoy feasting on the fruits of my labor! (I should say our labor now, because my wife Ruth now helps me in my gardens—an incredible joy and blessing!)
What do you look forward to most in your life? Some love to go to the beach, or maybe the mountains! Some others wait all year for the opening of hunting season, others wait to go fishing all they can. Some love to play golf or the start of their favorite sports season and some just can’t wait for the county fair to begin! We all should have favorite things we enjoy!
”My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10b NLT
I always enjoy learning while I’m working with my hands…..I’ve always been that way. So, about 20 years ago when I started experimenting with growing popcorn, I had to read everything I could find about it (growing organically of course). It took several years, but for instance I found 3 different “cover crops” that perfectly feed next years popcorn, with the plots alternating.
All of this work with popcorn started because of one simple fact…..I love popcorn! And I wanted to find out if it was possible to grow popcorn that would suit my taste, and have all of the kernels pop. That also meant I had to start learning about the popcorn—or corn plants themselves…..and there was always something to learn, and I still have a lot to learn…..
Perhaps it doesn’t take much to fascinate me…..but I was fascinated by the lifecycle of the popcorn plant-and all that goes on in that 120 day life! I know of course that plant life is much different from animal life and much, much different from human life—and can’t be compared. But, we can still see the Creator’s Hand in the design of plant life. For instance: did you know that every ear of corn (popcorn, sweet corn, field corn) has an even number of rows? It always does! And what about that pesky silk that you have to work so hard to get off your sweet corn? Well, if it wasn’t for the silk, the cob would be empty…….Each Strand Of silk, if pollinated,will be the start of one kernel of corn on that cob!
If we are paying attention and looking for it, we will find God’s Fingerprint is in all of creation, and it’s amazing…..learn from it and enjoy it!
”Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NASB
(And it was possible to grow popcorn to suit my taste and have all the kernels pop!)
Till Next Time…..
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