Seeing the divine in everything.

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful. Nothing will befall us except if it was ordained.

26 August 2014

...And I'm back, sorry for the lull in the conversation. I have had a hectic two weeks hey. Lots of pre spring seeding and planting, volunteers have come and gone benefitting the gardens both here in Schaapkraal and at Garlandale High, and I hope themselves too, thank you Allah. The gardens are so on fire - it pops up little surprises every so often Alhamdulillah.

When I rummaged through the soil in the baths, sleek smooth healthy potatoes uncovered their hijab. I literally danced a jig. There are 3 almonds fruiting amongst the buds courtesy of the honey bees’ pollination. The apricot tree is now blossoming too and their blossoms are tinged with a flush of pink. The cauliflowers are out! Alas I am like tiger mother inspecting the leaves for hidden dragons who dine on their gourmet white heads.  And the daisy bush growing at the feet of the leeks are “feverfew” plants, thank you for that heads up Saffiyah. The compost is almost ready and should one grab a handful, it smells of sweet forest soil.

The pods of the linseed or flaxseed have turned brown and are ready for harvest so we have a steady supply of seed for scattering over porridge as well as freshly baked rolls and new seedlings are germinating as well. Every inch of planting space is alive from the fruiting strawberries to Barberton daisies; from the grape vines’ new foliage to ranunculi flower heads; from delphiniums to wild daisies and wild sorrel are in bloom too. And a lonesome flower bush with elegant purple flowers grow in the paving area – must check its name.

In between all of this I have had gum and tooth ache and alas an extraction. But what can I say priorities, priorities. I have been at the dentist maybe 6 years ago, I have not been flossing and having my teeth cleaned as I should, don’t even talk about all of those sweet things that I love. But as a friend reminded – spirituality is seeing the divine in everything. Every blossom, every bud, every fruit, every raindrop, every unit of electricity and of course every pain, every ache, every loss will not befall us except by Allah’s will. Maintaining our strength and belief is central to this even in the face of pain and fear of pain.

apricot from seed

I must admit that this agonising dental journey had many lessons for me ne. And it has been a long time since I visited a dentist with such an awesome bedside manner and a wonderful team – reception and support. Dr Salwa Maneveld take a bow. Thank you so much for an excellent service that you provide at affordable rates. I am not sure what the area is called but it’s close to the Lotus River Laerskool and thank you so much for checking up on me.

This morning I dressed warmly and Abu and I planted more than 200 seedlings Alhamdulillah – lettuce and danya and beetroot. I am so impatient for the warm weather but this light drizzle was perfect for first day in the food garden beds for seedlings. The middle bed is being re-composted for our new tomato plants that we nurtured in bags and we will make the wigwams a bit bigger this time. So a bit of crop rotation and we’re good to go! I am also so tired of trying to outmanoeuvre the birds to get the early strawberries and a friend has offered us some nets with holes small enough to block out birds and big enough to let in the bees.  I will in return, as an olive branch throw them some of the flaxseed. And tomorrow Insha’Allah I hope to put in the sweet potato slips as well.

As I am busy in the garden I look at all the green leafy vegetables that need to be harvested – kale, spinach, swiss chards, cabbages red and green, cauliflowers and broccoli.  The broccolis and cabbages are too small but I start harvesting the rest with no idea how to serve it yet. Abu brought some rump steak which we have not had in a while and I really want to serve it with a bang as Azrah is also completed the last of her days of fasting in Shawwal. These greens are so full of phytochemicals for all kinds of cancers, the spinach lowers harmful level of LDL cholesterol and vitamins C and B6, calcium, potassium and a host of others. And some of these leafy greens are known to contain indoles, thought to protect against ovarian and breast cancer.

So I sautéed a small onion, rinsed leafy greens with salt water, shopped them all up including the kale, added some mustard seed and stir fried till they changed bright green, then mixed them into a cheesy white sauce to fill some pastry rounds later.

I then seasoned the steak and kneaded it a bit with the side of a porcelain saucer and set aside to fry just before serving with some onion rings and a green chilli braised in the steak sauce. Peeled some potatoes for mash and set aside. Took out the pastry and rolled out a few thick pastry rounds, scored a border 2 cm inside the edge of each round, placed the leafy veggies in thick sauce in the centre and baked on high temperature. For good measure thawed some frozen patta to fry as another side dish. Let me finish cooking, I’m off, later!

Plant healthy green foods and take good care of your teeth.

Yasmine

 A bit later.

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful. “Is not He (better than your gods) Who created the heavens and the earth and sends down for you water (rain) from the sky. Whereby we cause wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight?

27 August 2014.

 

Alhamdulilaah Cape Town is certainly blessed with so much Rahmah – and the rain came down in torrents. I had forgotten that August is the month of rain. I had forgotten that in Schaapkraal the ground should be raised when planting because the water levels are high. Alas, the garden flooded a bit especially the low lying new spaces. InshaAllah I hope that the water will recede a bit, after all we needed the rain to fill the dams. Like I said, the garden teaches us every day.

This is an exciting week for us, friends are visiting from Gauteng and Hydepark College in Rondevlei is having their Market day and there will be a food garden stall as well with lots of herbs and other plants and compost for reasonable prices. We will also publish our iLABs e-newsletter/mag. I look forward to bidding farewell to all the hujjaj who are on their way to Makkah Mukaramah and Madinah Munowarah.

Despite all of the remoer here at Schaapkraal there is time to see new growth all of the time. The students are starting their own gardens at home too and so we swap seedlings and plants for chocnut brownies, how awesome is that? The artichoke seedlings are inspiring as they break through the soil to germinate. It makes one ponder about the description of Allah SWT in Surah `Abasa: 24-32

How We poured down water in torrents,

Then We broke open the Earth, splitting [it with sprouts],
And caused to grow within it grain,
And grapes and herbage,
And olives and palm trees,
And gardens of dense shrubbery,
And fruit and grass—
[As] enjoyment for you and your grazing livestock.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Grow food and learn to barter

Yasmine
ps. Had such a beautiful comment from a family member early this morning he said that the salah around the Ka'aba as we all turn our face to Allah's direction is like a flower opening and closing in all of the movements in tandem. Subhanallah!