Raised-bed Cultivation

“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put together--spirit, soul, and body...”

(1 Thessalonians 5:23 MSG)

My husband and I are planning our vegetable garden for the spring. We are trying to decide between a raised-bed garden (topsoil is mounded up inside a frame) or just planting straight into the dirt in our backyard. We have tried both methods in previous years.

Planting straight into the ground requires less of an initial investment in new soil and materials for the frame. But once the plants start growing, weeds are much more prevalent. As you walk in between the rows to tend to the plants, the soil gets compacted as well. Raised beds require more work in the beginning. It seems like a waste to buy new topsoil when you have plenty of it in your backyard. But the plants seem to thrive better in raised beds--maybe because of better drainage and less interference from pre-existing  weeds and pests.

In our quest for physical, mental, and spiritual growth, many of us attempt to cultivate wholeness in earthly soil. We dig up a patch amidst our existing concerns and plant seeds. Yet, we notice that our efforts don’t yield much fruit. Worldly preoccupations compete with growth and wholeness. Sanctity is best cultivated in quality soil that is raised up and separated from daily worries. This detachment can sometimes be mistaken for indifference; in actuality, our concerns have merely shifted--to a higher plain.