Making History: Establishing A New Rhubarb Patch

I have been a bit under the weather the last couple weeks but felt well enough this evening (and actually had a bit of extra time) to go out to the back yard and complete a vision that has been on my mind for quite some time.

The self sustaining hobby farm that I grew up on had two very large beautiful rhubarb patches established and whenever they would begin to grow, it was a sure sign of Spring. I still have access to those patches but since I don’t own the property, there is a chance that someday I may not. I have been intending on starting one in my own back yard for several years now and today the time had come.

I find that whenever I take action on a project that has already been created energetically (in your mind) that lots of inspiration and good information flow through to me while I am doing it. This evening was no different.

As I was planting I could clearly see/feel that that moment in time was just a tiny snip it that would be history soon after my project was completed. As is everything we do. I especially feel it though while planting perennials!

Once established they have the potential of thriving for hundreds of years. Its an awesome thought to realize that maybe someday my grandchildren or great-great grandchildren or even beyond that may reap the fruits of what I was doing in that moment. I believe that to be true as that was my intention while planting!

So, as far as the process of planting the rhubarb, it was really quite simple. I dug a trench about 9 to 10 feet long and about a foot deep, removing all of the sod.

I had purchased three pots of started roots.

After digging and preparing the soil, I planted each cluster of rhubarb roots about 3 feet apart. I planted them level with the ground. As they grow and establish over the years they will grow together forming one large long 9 to 10 foot patch with no gaps in between. Especially since I removed all of the sod.

As I was putting soil around them, I also went to the compost barrel and dug a container full of compost out and mixed it with the soil for some deep rich fertility.

I (or Mother Nature) will water them with about 1 inch of water per week for the first year. And I will not pick from the patch until next Spring. This will give it a good chance to really take hold and spread. Also a little love towards these plants goes a long ways!

I clearly can not write a blog post without mentioning the wonderful health benefits of rhubarb!

Some information refers to rhubarb as a fruit and some as a vegetable. Whatever it is, its a good thing to add to your diet. I grew up eating it raw as a child and in desserts also. As an adult, I do both as well!

So, I will close out this article with some inspired thoughts I was receiving while cleaning up my garden tools and putting things away. As I was digging in my compost barrel (feeling lucky for a moment that my sense of smell was diminished from my recent cold) I began to think of compost and the whole idea of it. Really all it is is a bunch of no good waste that is not wanted and no longer useful to us in its current form. But, if we save and store it in the right environment it becomes some of the utmost useful and rich nutrients that can be reused for many purposes.

I put this whole concept over “life” Sometimes the crappiest, most seemingly useless stinky things exist in our lives but if we learn to embrace/appreciate them and process them in a healthy way, they make our souls grow stronger, more loving, large and beautiful in the future. We become fed or fertilized by them. There is always a perfect place for everything in our life experience. Even if we don’t see it at the time. Let it be and it will come back to make us flourish!

*Blessings*
– Shodi