A Lovely Example of Gardening

Couple working in their garden, Texas, 1943, LOC.

I was getting ready to do some work in the strawberry patch. There was a chill in the air and a bit of rain falling.  I searched through my closet to find my raincoat.  With my miniature gardening tools in hand, I started for the back grounds of our property. My husband was surprised by what I was wearing. He said, "Why are you wearing that beautiful coat? You will get it all dirty."  I told him it was 15 years old and my oldest one. "I know people are supposed to wear their oldest things to garden," I explained in dismay. "But all my old things are nice."   I was perplexed as to how to solve this but worked carefully to avoid getting my clothes dirty.

Later, I decided that I would wear a sturdy work apron when working outdoors. This would cover my long skirt and provide some protection.  I realize that many people wear jeans and things they don't mind getting dirty. That sounds very wise. It is so good that we have choices in our way of dress and the style that makes us most comfortable. I have several maxi skirts which I wear all year, in every season. I am happiest in this type of clothing. Wearing my pretty things in the garden is much like my wearing pretty things while I deep clean the house. I simply cover my clothes with an apron. I want my work at home, in the house or on the grounds to be lovely. This makes me happy.

I recently looked at old photographs of homemakers in their gardens. They were wearing simple house dresses. One would wear sturdy work dresses around the home and yard. If a lady was going out, on errands, to visit friends, or to attend church, she would change into something nicer.  I was grateful to notice I was not alone in this style of dressing.

The work of maintaining the grounds includes designing the arrangement of the landscape. It involves deciding where the flowers will be planted and the main garden of vegetables and fruits. We may also come to understand that changes can be made. We can remove wild plants and things we don't like or that don't work in the yard. We can replace them with useful plants, pretty flowers, and beautiful hedges. This work takes time, often years, but can make the result of all the effort very beautiful for all to enjoy. 

Students working in a home economics garden, Virginia, 1943, LOC.

Emilie Barnes wrote many books about having a beautiful, organized home. She also wrote about gardening. She mentioned that one of the main things she did was to use the hoe, each day, to keep the weeds under control.  I love this idea.  If we let the weeds get out of control, or to overtake the garden, if will be overrun and difficult to tend. This is similar to how we keep house. A little bit of work, consistently, to tidy the house and maintain a spirit of neatness is easier to do than letting it all pile up.  

When we do these little tasks, indoors and out, on a daily basis, there is often someone watching.  As we calmly work, with grace, diligence, and a cheerful heart of service, this may very well be an example to the next generation of something lovely and beautiful.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

One of the greatest joys - Mother's Benevolent Society. 

 Remembering my Childhood - When Television was Special. 

Ration Books from 1942 and helpful advice - Adapting to the High Cost of Living.

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Find old time encouragement of living simply on a limited income, in Mrs. White's book:

"An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife"

This is a slim, 77 page, paperback book.