Creation Gardening: Trusting God for Toxin-Free Roses, Flowers, and
Food
Outline
Introduction
– not a choice between science and faith.
1. Science
deals with observation, not purpose.
2. Reality
is the net that holds the data.
Books – Rehwinkel, Darwin on Earthworms,
Darwin’s Black Box, Evolution Is Not Science. Ben Stein’s movie.
A. This
is a theology book about gardening and Creation.
B. Creation
by the Word of God
C. Genesis
1
D. John 1
E. Other
passages, Isaiah 40, new creations in Paul,
Manufacturing
Difficulties Increases Work with Man-Made Solutions
1. Chemical
fertilizers kill soil microbes.
2. Toxins
kill all life for a period of time, thwarting beneficials without stopping the
pests.
3. The
soil needs an abundance of life to be fertile, soft, alive.
4. Rototilling,
fertilizing, and spraying are the worst approaches
Foundational
works for the gardener.
I.
Teaming with Microbes.
J.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs
K. Sharon
Lovejoy books – overall view, observation, art
L. Norma
Boeckler – artist, gardener, faithful Lutheran
Teaming
with Microbes – essential for all plants
A. Fungus.
B. Bacterial
C. Protozoa
D. Other
microbes
E. The
importance of trapping the nutrients in the soil root zone.
The
Earthworm as God’s Tireless Gardener
F. Virtues
of the red wiggler
G. A cow
that feasts on bacteria
H. Also a
bus that moves bacteria
Pests
Are Food for Beneficial Creatures – Do Not Starve the Beneficials
A. Tale
of the destroyed white roses.
B. Ichneumons
and Flower flies
C. Rove
beetles and cursorial spiders, plus spider webs
D. A
blessing of toads
Birds
Serve as the Air Wing of Gardening
E. Most
loathed birds are very useful – starlings, grackles
F. Mixed
diets – seed and bugs, for most birds.
G. Grackle
diapers
H. Bird
paradise
I. Jackson
EZ Bird Swing
J. Natural
food is the best – a reason to eliminate toxins
K. Water
is needed most of all
L. Mulch
as bird feeders and spider homes
Roses
Are Easy To Grow – Thorn Bushes with Beautiful Flowers
Starting from scratch – digging the hole in the lawn
The lawn as perfect compost
Pre-soaking the bare root roses – and all plants – in rain
water
Newsprint or cardboard as the bottom layer of mulch
Shredded wood as the top layer
Earthworms as the sign and guarantee of fertile soil
Continuous
Care of Roses Means Plenty of Cut Flowers for Everyone
John 15. A shared joy is a doubled joy – German saying
Plants
for Food, Enjoyment, and Birds
Berry plants
Seed plants
So-called weeds
Asparagus
Vines
Sweet Corn – if the critters allow
