GARDENER'S PARABLE

Dear Friend,

Recently, something unsettling—and sadly familiar—stirred across our skies. A massive dust storm swept through northern Illinois, veiling the horizon and dimming the sun. For some, it may have seemed like a rare weather event. But for those of us close to the land, it felt like something deeper—a visible echo of what happens when soil is no longer living. A warning. A parable.

Soil doesn’t turn to dust overnight. It becomes lifeless when roots are stripped away, coverings removed, and living systems disrupted. It dries out, hardens, and eventually repels even the rain meant to restore it. Left untended, it blows away.

The longer I care for the land, the more I see: the soil tells the same story as the soul. A soul—just like soil—is dry and depleted when it's no longer nourished by the One who made it to flourish. The more we entrust our lives to the pace and pressure of the world, the more we risk erosion—of peace, purpose, and joy.

There are systems built to take—driven by hustle and consumption, with no thought to long-term health. But stewardship is different. A good Gardener knows that both soil and soul need rest, roots, and Living Water—truth, worship, and fellowship.

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

This is the heart behind how we farm—not just in the ground, but in spirit. The storm reminded us why we protect and replenish the land. Why we slow down. Because when both soil and soul are tended well, life doesn’t just survive—it flourishes.

Let’s stay rooted, steward wisely, and entrust both soil and soul to the Gardener who never fails.

Until next time,

Mrs. Farmer Jones