A beat-up black three-ring binder holds the record of 35 gardening years. I turn to it every spring because it remembers where the tomatoes grew last summer. It reminds me of the serendipitous genius of planting the peas next to the fence—a ready-made trellis! It helps me to foil the ravenous beetles by keeping me from planting the squash in the same spot in consecutive years.
This year we added dahlias to the marigolds and sunflowers in our mostly-vegetable garden. This November, I planted a small nation of crocus and yellow daffodil bulbs on the east side of the house. All of this will be recorded in the notebook, and this is one small way of managing the bit of earth God has entrusted to our care.
The glory of spring sprouting is always offset by the tired tedium of pulling weeds.
There are no minutes in the garden—only rows, a measure not of time, but of task.
Year after fruitful year we remember that the work of the garden is a metaphor for the work of life.
Andrea Burke has lived the gardening life as well, so I read A Bit of Earth with a feeling of collegiality, a deep understanding of someone who has planted garlic in the fall and, feeling a kinship with the small cloves buried under earth and leaves, has asked herself, “How will it survive the winter? I barely do.”
She writes about Mud Season and reminds me to cultivate the days of muck boots and slow slogging by “letting the churn of mud slow [me] down enough so [I] can see who God actually is and where on earth he actually has [me].”
She recounts the blessings of hard work, the benefits the uninitiated chalk up to luck, but gardeners know require bent-over hours in the tasks of planting and tending.
The forty-nine inspirational readings are divided by season and include insights both poetical and practical:
- As you plan what seeds you’ll plant this spring, consider also the growth you want to see in your life.
- Learn the names of the weeds you’re fighting in the garden and, likewise, identify the sins you’re fighting in your life. Call them by name and uproot them ruthlessly.
- Harvest the fruit of your labor with joy, all the while praying for a fruitful life: “Please let there be something to harvest in the end.”
For seasoned gardeners or for the curious about cultivation, Burke’s winsome words will encourage and motivate those who feel the call to tend their own “bit of earth” while being more intentional about cultivating the soil of their hearts.
What Other Reviewers Are Saying
“In this rich and poetic book, Andrea Burke welcomes us into her garden so that we can almost feel the dirt on our fingers, the waiting for growth, the battle against weeds and bugs, the joy of the harvest, and taste of its bounty. But far more than that, she plants in us as readers a desire for Christ to dwell richly in us, ridding us of what will choke out spiritual life and beauty, and growing in us abundant fruit of his Spirit.” ―Nancy Guthrie
A Bit of Earth is as well-written as any book I’ve read in the past few years and as enjoyable to read. Whether or not you’re into gardening, I recommend you pick it up and give it a read. I’m quite certain you’ll be glad you did. —Tim Challies
Holding You in the Light,
“Gardening is not for the elite or the wealthy, and it’s not just for the people who aren’t afraid of hard work and working hard… In gardening we join the song that all of creation sings.” @theandreaburke @lexhampress #abitofearth
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I love writings that use the everyday things as analogies to teach us to go deeper in our walk with the Lord Michele.
Visiting from Joanne’s today.
Blessings, Jennifer
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YES! It brings all the loose ends together.
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This sounds like an insightful and fun read, Michele!
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I really enjoyed it! So much kinship between gardeners!
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What a treasure trove your notebook must be. A true legacy for your children and their children … and a wealth of gardening knowledge for whoever will take the time to sit down and wander through its pages. Sounds so fascinating, my Maine gardening friend.
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Well… at the very least, the notebook is evidence of a particular brand of stubbornness. 😂
My favorite part (and the part I refer to most) is each year’s harvest and how much I canned each year because it tells me how much to plant in the spring.
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Michele, your metaphor of life as a garden is both beautiful and thought-provoking. I love how you highlight the importance of tending to our “bit of earth”—whether it’s our relationships, work, or spiritual growth—with diligence and care. It’s a reminder that while we may not control the outcome, faithfulness in the small things is what God calls us to. Your words encourage me to embrace the process, trusting that God, the ultimate Gardener, brings the fruit in His time. Thank you for sharing this rich and inspiring perspective—it resonates deeply! I appreciate you! Thank you so much for linking up at InstaEncouragements this week!
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I try to remember that as well—show up, pay attention, speak the truth, and don’t get attached to the results. After all, he is the Vine dresser, and I want to learn to live like a vine.
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