For many years, I lived on a small urban farm called Rose Hill Farm. When I first moved in, there was nothing but weeds. In fact, the weeds were so large that you could barely see the house. I named the property Rose Hill Farm because a single rose plant lived amongst the unrelenting weeds.
I spent the first two years bringing life back into the soil. I propagated over 100 heirloom rose plants. Eventually, there was a kitchen potager, large vegetable garden, a small orchard, chicken coop, arena, and homes for rescue goats and horses.
I left Rose Hill Farm because of a divorce.
When I started over from scratch, I never imagined I would have the opportunity to build all over - not like this. Nor did I ever imagine that one day I would be talking about rose gardens and greenhouses again. It's impossible to not feel a deep sense of gratitude for second chances. I often write about the animal part of the sanctuary's work but not as much about the earth stewardship and practices I dream about.
From the moment we purchased Rivendell, Paul and I have known we would build Eden. We want to provide for ourselves and those in our care with a beautiful environment and nutritious foods. We imagine dinners with family and friends at our large farm table, covered in delicious farm-to-table foods, trails to walk on after a large meal, and maybe even one day, some homegrown wine. As I look out my window and see, once again, familiar unrelenting weeds, I know our Eden will take years to come to fruition.
Last year, Paul built me a greenhouse. He used upcycled wood pallets and we found the door at a local recycling center. The door remains unpainted because I can't decide on a color.
This greenhouse made it through some of the hardest rainfalls our area has seen in a long time. It's built like a tank, and I know I will love it until my last breaths.
Paul also built me three raised garden beds. They, too, are built from upcycled wood pallets. Before spring, he plans on building me three more. But first, the chicken coop. He's shared his design plans for the coop, and I can hardly stand the wait. The coop will go next to the rose garden, which has yet to be planted. There is a heritage home in Riverside and I hope to go over and speak to their master gardeners about propagating from some of their roses, which when I last visited were varieties over 100 years old.
I have a strict no-purchase rose policy. I like for every rose I grow to come with a story. At Rivendell, the one rose plant that sits in the middle of the not-yet-planted rose garden is the single rose plant original to Rose Hill. Paul and I have lugged it around, from home to home, for years. I will name the small garden, Second Chance Rose Garden. If anyone has a special rose plant and you'd like to send a few cuttings, I will plant them for you (see below).
This coming weekend, I have a big project. I need to clean out the greenhouse to prepare for fall and winter growing. When we battened down the hatches for the tropical storm, we put anything and everything into the greenhouse as we lack outdoor storage. Currently, you can't even move around in there. And, if that weren't enough, something is living in there. I've spotted some droppings too big for a field mouse... So, I've my work cut out for me. Next weekend, I hope to find a different place for everything being stored in there and seed:
lettuce
kale
cauliflower
spinach
broccoli
peas
carrots
beans
bell peppers
chives
onion
leeks
Today, Paul and his nephew are driving up north to pick up some items that have been donated to the sanctuary. I'm going to be resting as I hurt my hamstring. Well, I didn't do it, these two silly floofs did when they rammed into me while playing around. Don't be fooled by the innocent sweet looks. They play roughly.
Paul made a wonderful video about their developing relationship that I keep watching on repeat:
For those that may be new, Freya is a pure-bred Great Pyrenees we rescued from a horrific animal hoarding case when she was six weeks old. She is almost three years old and weighs in at about 160 pounds. Frodo, we think, is a Great Pyrenees and Labrador mix. One day he limped onto the sanctuary. The vet thinks he is about one year old, and he weighs in at about 60 pounds.
Be a Part of the Second Chance Rose Garden
How to Send a Rose Cutting
Take three small stem cuttings (about 10 inches).
Wrap a moist paper towel around the end.
Place cuttings into a zip bag, remove air, and seal.
Please include a note about the rose. I don't know yet how I will tell the story of each rose, but the second chance story will be told.
Place into envelope and send to Rivendell:
PO Box 819, Temecula, CA 92593
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