Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary....

How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

Well, my name's not Mary, and there sure aren't any silver bells or cockle shells, let alone pretty maids in my garden, but we're just starting. My thumb is getting greener daily.

Last December, my mom sent me seeds to start my own garden, which I finally did this past week. So two Sundays ago, my favorite 10 year old Aramatou and I started by digging up strategically placed plots for the cucumbers, carrots, marigolds, green beans and sunflowers I had. The truth is that I provided the supplies and guidance and Ara did the rest while her sister Sita and I watched. I went and borrowed the spade from my host family and she did all the digging. I started walking to the pump with my bucket and she threw down the spade, and ran after me. She was gracious enough to let me pump the water (she's good at it, but she's still small enough that it gets hard fast!), but she carried the bucket back to my house on her head. And then when it came time to put the seeds in the ground, I read the planting directions on the back of the seed packet, and she counted out the seeds and dropped them in the hole. 7 year old Sita was there for moral support, and did a very good job covering up the seeds once they were in their holes. School's still in session, which means that Ara misses the morning waterings, but she's at my house religiously every afternoon, helping me assess their daily growth (The seed packs said they'd sprout in 14-21 days. It took most of them about 5! We've had fun watching them shoot up!), and waiting to help me with the afternoon watering session. Again, I pump the water, but she carries the water back to my house and does the rest; she will not have it any other way. Now that I'm gone for a few days, she's solely in charge of the twice daily waterings.

The adults in village think it's hilarious that I'm gardening, especially since they're all waiting for the rains to come so they can plant their crops. Several of my friends have asked me for some of my seeds, and I've been happy to oblige.