The seeds are ordered, people have been invited, and the layout of the garden is being drawn up. The Onyx House is hosting a Co-Op. We’re growing Organic-Certified, Heirloom Species vegetables from Seeds Of Change. Lettuce goes in the ground next month, followed in March by Snap Beans, Cucumber, Eggplant, Tomato, and Squash. Rounding out the Spring will be Peppers, Okra, and more Tomatoes.
I’m looking forward to this for a variety of reasons: (1) we’re decreasing our ecological footprint by growing some of our own produce, (2) we’re creating a hobby that makes us go outside (3) we’re enriching our community by creating a space we all get together once a month, (4) we’re preserving biodiversity by growing dying species and (5) we’re opening our home to our friends and family.
When Carrie and I bought our home, we talked about how we wanted it to be different. We wanted to live out some of the beautiful realities we saw in ancient christianity (people giving away possesions to others in need, opening their homes to others, living a life that found Jesus in every moment and place). I felt like we needed to communicate that in the way that we talked about our home, which is why I coined the phrase “The Onyx House” (Why Onyx? We live on –surprise, surprise– Onyx St). It’s not named after us, “The Begnaud’s House”, which connotates the exclusion of others. It’s a name that I hope conveys a spirit of openness. Maybe it conveys that I’m a pompous ass. Who knows.
The image I have in my head of kids sitting on blankets or running around playing chase while adults labor and laugh in the garden while a clear blue sky overhead gives life to our plants might not be realized but I hope and pray that the backyard co-op is the start of a posture of generosity towards coworkers, friends, and neighbors.
