My sister-in-law introduced me to this video and I decided to try it. This organic sweet potato video shows how an organic sweet potato grows vs. a non organic sweet potato. I love
- growing things
- teaching science
- long-term projects with kids
- sweet potatoes!
So this was the perfect homeschool science project . . . but of course it morphed and took on a life of its own. (as things seem to in my house)
These sweet potatoes grew and grew with the organic one always bigger, more foliage, and needing WAY more water.
The green was so vibrant! It was a great plant to have in the house through the winter. But, by summer it was a trailing vine. What do I do with it now? One of my smaller scientist suggested that I plant it outside so I did, in a pot, with some other annual herbs.
What I didn’t realize when I planted the vines in dirt that it would continue to grow . . . fruit this time.
I wonder what would have happened if I had a bigger bucket
From the first moment that I watched the sweet potato video and knew that I wanted to try it, I had no idea how life’s everyday can turn into a metaphor for our walk with the Lord.
- I saw something cool and wanted to try it. (people following Jesus)
- one sweet potato grew effortlessly (grace from God)
- one sweet potato grew fruit and the other did not (fruits of the Holy Spirit)
- the other sweet potato never flourished–it grew but did not produce fruit.
- We started out this project with excitement and enthusiasm but ended up planting the potatoes outside in the nearest container . . . not much thought was given to what would happen. Finally, I decided to compost–and found a gift! (our gifts might be hidden under dirt or we may feel like we have been discarded–but God is still working–even in the dirt!)
- We have enough tiny sweet potatoes to make muffins or add to soup. (God will provide what we need.)
I am amazed at how one suggestion from my sister-in-law could have given me so much to be thankful for. How this story was a year in the making . . . now I’m thinking about all of the other things that I may have missed because I didn’t live in the moment and intentionally.
Not gonna let that happen again!
Well, or course I will–but it made quite a dramatic statement. I am grateful. I do give thanks in everything–I am beginning to see how life, grace, sweet potatoes and gratitude are all together. I am trying to stop and see life in this very moment.
Be Blessed.
Linking up with wordless wednesday. whatever works, work in progress, living well wednesday, thought provoking thursdays, Wisdom Wednesdays
I love how the sweet potato grew into a metaphor to Jesus. Wonderful. I will watch the video and do the experiment as well with my kids at my school at home. :)
I also found organic potatoes in the pantry–after a few months–I obviously sat them down to do something else–but they were beautiful. Stay tuned for my celery project and ginger . . . all things that have sort of just come to be . . .
Be Blessed.
Wow, so cool. The potato and the comparison. “Our gifts may be hidden under dirt or we may feel like we have been discarded-but God is still working -even in dirt”-love that!!
The metaphor to Jesus sort of happened as I was writing this post . . . that is why there is no scripture attached to my thoughts–that would have taken more research–I memorize the verses but not where they are . . .
Be Blessed.
Oh, my…your sweet potato grew a lot of fruit in life, and in your writing and observations for this post..so wonderful :)
note to self, don’t start growing sweet potatoes unless I REALLY want sweet potatoes! Clever metaphor, too – thanks!
Love the analogy. Hope you have some butter and cinnamon to eat on those bad boys!
yes, I do–a meal for one!
or maybe muffins.
be blessed.
okay, i am intrigued about the sweet potato project. I also love the lessons that you pull from it. i love doing that, too.
I have a few more “accidental” learning projects in the works–because that is real life–
I’ll be posting them as well.
Be Blessed.