I stumbled out of bed this morning, much like many other 70-year-olds, greeted by a sharp pain in my lower back—back pain and sciatica making yet another unwelcome appearance. Unlike some, I chose not to reach for pain medication or retreat to bed. Instead, I started my day with a hot cup of tea and … More The Cycling Cure: A Personal Reflection
For the past month, I have been working two days a week in a little shop here in downtown Deland called Nancy’s Vintage and Retro. It’s not for the money that I took on this job. It’s for the love: the opportunity to finally wear my vast collection of true vintage clothing, something I rarely … More The Gateway Hat
Going Native The greatest hurdle to my learning to garden – or to just live – in Florida is learning to recognize and appreciate the unique Florida ecosystem. The native soil/sand (not to mention culture, politics, attitudes) sucks – when compared to everywhere else I have lived. Clearly the hint to successful gardening in Florida … More Gardening for Life – part 7
A Path Through the Jungle “Walkways allow people to easily move throughout the landscape without trampling your plants. They provide direction through the garden, keep your feet dry, and reduce soil compaction in lawns and landscape beds.” The quote above is from our University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions website, my bible in all things … More Gardening for Life – part 6
What do I do with all this food? Farm to fork? Ha! My harvests don’t get that far. Every morning first thing I do while waiting for my tea to brew is walk through the garden and pick string beans, peas, tomatoes, leaves, berries, herbs, whatever I find and eat them., then and there, who … More Gardening for Life part 8
Mulch Madness Following that workshop by Lonny Reid on soil amendments, I was obsessed with mulch. It seemed to be the most sensible, doable, natural, inexpensive, and just plan simple means of making my Florida sand useable. I needed mulch. I wanted mulch. I craved mulch. I dreamed about mulch! And I got it in … More Gardening for Life – Part 5
Summertime Gardening On May 17 2023 I had shoulder reconstruction surgery to repair a skydiving injury sustained way back in 1977. My left shoulder would slip out of the socket and not go back. This did not hurt at all, but it was awkward and took a bit of maneuvering to replace so I can … More Gardening for Life – part 4
It was a blank slate, a vast, greenish brown, terribly ordinary space that terrified me. Yet at the same time, it spoke to me, beckoned to me, sprinkling my imagination with limitless possibilities – most of which were thoroughly inappropriate and unrealistic. I was baffled and amused by the similarities between my life and my … More Gardening for Life – Intro
Of course, I got all the money. Dad disinherited both my brothers because they all hated each other. Now they hate me too even though I do send my younger brother money every month. He wants more so he hates me. There was no way our dad would repair broken fences or rebuild burned bridges … More Dredging the Depths
When people ask me about my strangest experience, it is usually my early days in New Zealand that come to mind. It was a very hard story to tell because it is simply too bizarre to be believable. For years I never told anyone because they were sure I was making it up. It is … More Culture Shock New Zealand: a New Yorker does the South Island – 1980
Laine Berman 