gardening according

426 Pages·2017·7.79 MB·English

by  Ross, William A.

“GARDENING ACCORDING B “
TO THE IBLE

http://journalofapilgrim.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/jesus_and_child_garden_2.gif?w=640 pcraine(at)redeemer.ca
“ The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters. “
Psalm 24
bill ross 804-855-4988
1
Contents
The why of this book “Gardening According to the Bible” .................................................................... 8
A Mary garden prayer ................................................................................................................................ 8
Beginning and the end............................................................................................................................... 8
Dedication .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Introduction to “Gardening According to the Bible” ............................................................................... 9
As for me ? ................................................................................................................................................ 10
GAB Arrangement .................................................................................................................................... 11
“In the beginning, the garden” ................................................................................................................ 12
Gardening by God .................................................................................................................12
Spiritual Lessons from the Garden ........................................................................................13
“Personal Truths Joanne Taylor Learned from Gardening “ ...................................................13
Spiritual Lessons from Jesus Related to Gardening ..............................................................13
The theology of the garden ..................................................................................................................... 14
Applying Spiritual Lessons from Gardening ...........................................................................14
The garden ................................................................................................................................................ 15
“The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the
garden of his delight.” ............................................................................................................15
Interesting facts … plants in the bible ....................................................................................16
Preparing the garden ............................................................................................................................... 17
Flowers & Seasons .................................................................................................................................. 17
The seasons .............................................................................................................................................. 17
First partition …… the spring .................................................................................................................. 18
Spring ....................................................................................................................................18
The story of Sarah and Michael, (The Jersey Shore, Manasquan, New Jersey, Summer ......19
The Theology of Spring .........................................................................................................20
Light .................................................................................................................................................... 20
The sowing ........................................................................................................................................ 20
Water and watering .......................................................................................................................... 23
The soil............................................................................................................................................... 24
My humble spring reflections and very minor Spring theology ...............................................25
Applying biblical lessons of partition one to our daily gardening.............................................26
2
Creating or revitalizing your own garden ................................................................................27
1. Plan ............................................................................................................................................... 27
2. Solid work ethic ........................................................................................................................... 28
3. Soil preparation ........................................................................................................................... 28
4. Sun and Light .............................................................................................................................. 29
5. Water and watering .................................................................................................................... 29
6. Fertilizer (hopefully organic) ...................................................................................................... 30
7. Growing season and length ...................................................................................................... 30
Spring Flowers ......................................................................................................................31
Please see appendix one for the master list of bible verses that support the spring partition. 32
Second partition …… the summer ........................................................................................................ 32
Summer .................................................................................................................................32
The story of Sarah and Michael, Summer ..............................................................................32
The theology of summer ........................................................................................................34
Water and watering .......................................................................................................................... 35
Grow ................................................................................................................................................... 36
Blossom ............................................................................................................................................. 37
Tree .................................................................................................................................................... 37
Wheat ................................................................................................................................................. 39
Weeds ................................................................................................................................................ 39
Grape ................................................................................................................................................. 40
Vine and branches ........................................................................................................................... 41
Pruning ............................................................................................................................................... 42
Root .................................................................................................................................................... 43
My humble summer reflections and very minor summer theology ..........................................44
Applying biblical lessons of partition two to our daily gardening .............................................44
1. Plan and adapt ............................................................................................................................ 45
2. Dirt and mud and smells ............................................................................................................ 45
3. Water ............................................................................................................................................ 45
4. Light .............................................................................................................................................. 45
5. Weeding ....................................................................................................................................... 45
6. Situational awareness ................................................................................................................ 46
7. Pruning or not .............................................................................................................................. 46
3
8. Drought ......................................................................................................................................... 46
9. Pests ............................................................................................................................................. 46
10. Love and Zen of Gardening .................................................................................................... 46
Summer Flowers ...................................................................................................................47
See appendix 2 to see the numerous supporting biblical references for summer ...................47
Third partition …… Autumn .................................................................................................................... 47
Autumn ..................................................................................................................................47
The Story of Sarah and Michael, Autumn ..............................................................................48
Theology of Autumn ..............................................................................................................50
Ripen .................................................................................................................................................. 50
Reap ................................................................................................................................................... 51
Harvest ............................................................................................................................................... 52
My humble theology of Autumn .............................................................................................53
Applying the biblical lessons learned in Autumn to our daily gardening .................................53
1. Planning ..................................................................................................................................... 53
2. Reaping/cutting ......................................................................................................................... 54
3. Harvest ....................................................................................................................................... 54
4. Cleaning the fields .................................................................................................................... 54
5. Tilling or Turning ....................................................................................................................... 54
6. Fertilizing ................................................................................................................................... 55
7. Winter cover crop ..................................................................................................................... 55
8. Winter color ............................................................................................................................... 55
9. Dirt and mud and smells.......................................................................................................... 56
Autumn Flowers ....................................................................................................................56
Fourth partition …… the winter .............................................................................................................. 56
Winter ....................................................................................................................................56
The story of Sarah and Michael, Winter .................................................................................57
Theology of Winter ................................................................................................................59
Ecclesiastes 3 ................................................................................................................................... 60
Eat ...................................................................................................................................................... 60
Grain ................................................................................................................................................... 61
Crops .................................................................................................................................................. 62
Feast................................................................................................................................................... 64
4
My humble theology of Winter ...............................................................................................65
Applying the biblical lessons learned in Winter to our daily gardening ...................................66
Winter Flowers ......................................................................................................................66
GAB end and the beginning ................................................................................................................... 66
APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................... 67
Appendix 1: Bible versus about spring ..................................................................................67
The garden ........................................................................................................................................ 67
The Soil .............................................................................................................................................. 72
Psalm 37:35 ...................................................................................................................................... 72
Water .................................................................................................................................................. 75
Seed ................................................................................................................................................. 169
Sow ................................................................................................................................................... 176
Plant and plants .............................................................................................................................. 183
Prune ................................................................................................................................................ 192
Fertilizer ........................................................................................................................................... 192
Manure ............................................................................................................................................. 192
Appendix 2: Bible verses about summer ............................................................................. 193
Grow ................................................................................................................................................. 193
Blossom ........................................................................................................................................... 196
Tree .................................................................................................................................................. 198
Wheat ............................................................................................................................................... 231
Grape ............................................................................................................................................... 237
Wine ................................................................................................................................................. 238
Vine................................................................................................................................................... 269
Branches .......................................................................................................................................... 278
Root .................................................................................................................................................. 290
Appendix 3: Bible verses about autumn .............................................................................. 297
Ripe .................................................................................................................................................. 297
Harvest ............................................................................................................................................. 299
Reap ................................................................................................................................................. 308
Appendix 4: Bible verses about winter ................................................................................ 314
Eat .................................................................................................................................................... 314
Grain ................................................................................................................................................. 387
5
Crops ................................................................................................................................................ 414
Feast................................................................................................................................................. 416

6
Figure 1 Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. ............................................. 10
Figure 2 Parable of the Sower .............................................................................................................. 21
Figure 3 Saint Catherine’s church as the northeastern storm passes.......................................................... 33
Figure 4 This simple lifecycle of life figure represents the common path for spiritual and
physical growth ......................................................................................................................................... 50
Figure 5 The Biblical Feasts ....................................................................................................................... 64

7
The why of this book “Gardening According to the Bible”
We have tried to find a book that is totally dedicated to defining the direct relationship to core biblical
theology precepts to the physical plant and crop growing seasons and thus, to the seasons of our lives.
We could not find this book and thus, we were inspired to write Gardening According to the Bible (GAB).
As you will see below, GAB is not the traditional style of book. We purposely resisted making it like a
technical document. We wanted GAB to reflect the variations, blessings, and hardships of the garden of
our lives.. Like the most beautiful of gardens and on the richest of farms, GAB is more of a feeling and a
warm journey for our souls and hearts as we understand how Jesus loved the garden and used so, so
many examples of the garden to teach us how to be good human beings. We hope you will sense and
feel this approach as you walk through presentation within GAB and feel that GAB is much like the
garden itself where seeds and plants found their own way.
We are sure you will find multiple logic points to debate, misspellings, poor document structure and other
editing needed improvements. But, like a summer day at the Seashore, we hope that your walk in the
GAB will bring you happiness, joy and understanding.
A Mary garden prayer
“ Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
As our hearts are raised to you in love and thanksgiving through the light, grace, fragrance and
symbolism of these pure, blest, transfigured flowers of Our Lady - your direct creations, showing forth and
sharing with us your divine goodness, beauty and truth - we commune with you in awe and rapture and
pray that we and all our brothers and sisters may be opened to the fullness of the divine love of God and
Neighbor, through which we are to transform the fallen world into the culminating earthly Peaceable
Kingdom and Paradise, that all may be lifted up resplendent in the eternal New Heaven and New Earth of
our Crucified and Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. “
John Stokes, Jr.
Thank you: http://www.faithandflowers.com/marygardens.asp
Beginning and the end
What greater joy than to be in a garden and see the ultimate fruits of our labor.
I recently became aware in my aging life of the fact that, in essence, the bible begins with the creation of
a garden and ends with a description of the ultimate and endless garden of life. This is one of the most
beautiful things I have ever learned and reinforces my belief that God gave us rich abundance and he has
promised us rich abundance the rest of our lives.
Genesis
8
“And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every
kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was
morning, the third day.” Genesis 1
Revelations
“ Then the angel[a] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of
God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of
life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the
healing of the nations. “ Revelations 22
Dedication
“Gardening According to the Bible ” is dedicated to my mother, Marie Ross, for it is through her eyes that
I developed an interest in gardening and science. As a little boy and teenager, I would often quietly see
from a distance that whenever my mother came home from a long day at work and before she came into
the house to cook dinner that she would stop and visit her garden in our small yard. I realized years later
that she needed those visits to decompress from her work day and reenergize herself to continue her day
and night as a mom. Knowing my Mom, I bet she said one or two Hail Mary’s while at her garden. Here’s
to you mom.
I know my mom would love to meet all of you as you enjoy “Gardening According to the Bible (GAB)” but
she is now busy in heaven tending to God’s gardens.
Introduction to “Gardening According to the Bible”
My dear friends who will grace these pages, I cannot begin to describe the intense feeling and love I have
for the honor to present this little book to you. I believe the Holy Spirit inspired me to write it and as such,
I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to influence our journey as we explore God’s word as it
comes to us through the work of His creation of the most beautiful garden, the universe and the earth on
which we live.

It is our prayer that GAB, and the multiple biblical reference within will, as time goes by, provide you great
peace, growth in heart and soul, and an enhancement of your belief in God and His wonderful creation for
us ….. the garden of the earth. As you take the heavenly and spiritual biblical guidance that is presented
in GAB and its conversion to the physical earth that God showed us in the Garden of Eden, please
embrace the ultimate and human connection to what He has been given to us to use to live in this
majestic creation …. our earthly garden.
GAB is free to everyone. We only ask that if you downloaded and send to friends and print it that you put
some extra money in the church and denomination of your choice collection plate. If you print it for a
friend, only print first partition, up to page 80, print first page in color since it is so beautiful, print rest of
first partition in black and white, and have it all bound in a spiral at a place like Office Max.
In the spring and summer of 2013, I had the deep honor to serve as the volunteer landscaper at an
amazing church and parish, our Lady of Grace (OLG) is in Greensboro, North Carolina. During this time,
we built numerous gardens beautified the landscape. I wish I could do nothing else for the rest of my life
but take care of OLG. Like the city of Greensboro, OLG has a very special and peaceful feeling to it. I
have often been amazed at how vibrantly I could get things to grow there. If you can, may I suggest that
9
someday that you make a special visit from where ever you are to OLG, early summer seems best as our
flowers will begin to blossom and flourish then.
Given I have loved to garden for 50 of my 64 years, something inherited from my Mom, I have had a long
relationship with the joy of gardening. Well, one day while planting at OLG, it struck me that I had never
heard of an entire book that was focused on the lessons learned from the bible on how to garden. There
are many wonderful thoughts and writings in literature about gardening and the bible but nothing has
pulled it all together as we hope our GAB will. You will see many of these wonderful thoughts,
collections and theology below.
It is our hope and prayer that GAB will serve our mission to explain the basic theology and interpretations
of the organic process of the creation, design, harvesting, and consumption of the amazing bounty that
God has provided to us in the bible. It never ceases to amaze me how extensively the old and new
testament reference the core ingredients of gardening.
Can you just imagine what it was like for mankind in the days of the Old and New Testament and what life
was like from a basic needs and survival level? These were the days long before modern farming
techniques of artificial fertilizing and advanced tilling and growing techniques had been developed. In
essence, life was much simpler during Old and New Biblical days. Humanity could understand, perhaps
better than we can today, the relationship of the truth as interpreted and represented through biblical
examples of seeding and harvesting. However, while the world is far more complicated, the biblical
messages are as simple and applicable as they always were such as, “love God and love your neighbor
as you do yourself”.
Please page through GAB and pick out your favorite sections. Some parts of GAB might not feel relevant
to your spiritual gardening journey and other parts of GAB might last in your heart for a lifetime.

Figure 1 Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, North Carolina.
As for me ?
I am a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who is use to writing extensive technical documentation that is
highly structured and deliberate in form. However, as I composed GAB, I learned that GAB found its own
path at times as GAB is as much about spiritually influenced reflection and inspiration as it is about the
form and substance of planting and harvesting. And like natural gardening and life, GAB is too somewhat
10