A couple of days ago I heard an interview on MPR that caught my attention. The person being interviewed was speaking about an endeavor to get more fresh produce to be available for those who use the Twin Cities’ many food shelves. She spoke of the generosity of residents in donating canned goods and other nonperishable food. In March there is a big food drive across Minnesota for these much needed resources for those among us who live close to the edge. During this time people who have the ability to do so make donations of both money and food to keep these important and vital centers operating. But what is missing are the fruits and vegetables that bring taste, beauty and nutrients that cannot come in a can.

The name of this endeavor? ‘Plant an Extra Row’. Isn’t that a fabulous name? It just made me smile. What the organizers are doing is asking those of us who plant gardens to plant an extra row and then donate that fresh produce to their local food shelf. A little lettuce, a few tomatoes, some green beans, and of course zucchini……just a little extra to pass on to those who may not receive this healthy food in any other way.

It has been a long winter. Many of us are itching to get our hands into some soil. Some have been pouring over seed catalogues during these dark months. Many already have tiny plants germinating in the dark places of cellars and basements. As the soon as the ground thaws, the madness will begin!

I began to think about the tending that might happen to this ‘extra row’. The one that the grower knew would be handed off to waiting hands they do not know. Perhaps that extra row might contain the best seeds, the ones held out for just the right season, just the special occasion. I can imagine the gardeners planting this extra row and, as soil and hands meet, a prayer is said for not only the growing of seed to plant, but also for the family these seeds will feed. The extra row might become the greatest gift the gardener might give and also the greatest gift that might be received. Who knows?

Plant an Extra Row. I thought about all the other acts we plant in the course of any given day. We plant words, as I am doing now, or through our conversation. What if we were to plant an extra row of affirming words? Think of choosing to offer affirmations to coworkers or children? This row might be the one that lifts them from a place of despair or soothes the wound of other harsher words that have come their way.

Or what about planting an extra row of kindness? I can imagine choosing certain actions or creating experiences where a row of kindness buffers other experiences people might have. I can see a trough hollowed out whose intention is simply to be filled with good and pleasant intentions toward everyone I meet. No judgment. No gossip. No ill thoughts or words. Only a row of kindness blossoming.

Every day we are gardeners in the world. We plant our feet on the ground and move into the gift of a new day. As we go we are like the sower in Jesus’ parable. We throw out seeds of the work we do, the words we say. Some of these seeds fall on ground that will not grow into anything of worth. Other times our work and our gifts for this work, gets buried in soil that will bloom into something we hope for. Often it becomes something that surprises us and is more than we could have imagined.

What are you planting this day? What seeds do you have to scatter on the thawing ground? Most importantly, are you willing to plant an extra row?

Someone needs what you can grow. I am sure of it.