Sowing Seeds

The words just wouldn’t come in an articulate way since the horrific murder of George Floyd two weeks ago. Words (mostly not repeatable here) and emotions swirled all day and all night, but I could’t get them to sit still long enough to write this post. Then, in the midst of the unrest, I took an hour to plant my tiny kitchen garden and they fell into place.

At first, I looked at the bare grid of dirt and thought – “too little to late”. I didn’t plant early enough, so why bother? – it won’t amount to anything worthwhile but….I watered it anyway.

The next time I visited, I saw desolation and defeat – like nothing I did would make a difference, but…. I watered it anyway.

Last night when I brought the hose out in the hot sun, I spied a few tiny leaves of radish making their way into the world – leading me to believe that just maybe some consistent care, however small, might make a difference. so…I watered it again.

So in keeping with my kitchen garden analogy, I am committing to small consistent actions toward peace and justice in our community.

First and foremost, I will listen, learn and work to truly understand the depth of the privilege I have enjoyed in almost 60 years as a white woman. I know that, as the mother of two young white men, I’ve never had to have the conversations about police with my sons that their black friends mother’s have, and I know that this isn’t nearly enough.

I will march in protest for change with my fellow Minnesotans. I will speak out in every forum I have, including this one, in support of the BIPOC community and I will donate time, cooking skills and food to our neighbors in need.

And like my kitchen garden, I imagine there will be successes and failures, growth and withering, but …I’ll water it anyway.

I welcome your suggestions, ideas, challenges and support as I navigate this path along with so many of you.

For those of you who were expecting a “regular” KilKenney Kitchen post – I will be back with a new recipe on Friday and I will post both recipes and updates on my kitchen garden every couple of weeks throughout the summer.