Our first rain – the Yorei! It was just right both in timing and in quantity. It taught us and showed us what needs to be corrected. It drenched the earth very well.
After a month when most of the garden was the same color because of the sand and dust that covered everything, now the natural colors are strong, diverse and brilliant and the garden stimulates all of the senses.
The birds (even the kingfisher) have returned to the garden and are playing in the puddles and singing. The frogs are croaking. Flavors of winter and green are returning and the scent… wow … is something indescribable. These are the sights, sounds, and smells of health!
In Hebrew and appropriate to the seasons in our country, the first rain that arrives after a long dry season has its own name: "yoreh’ ". Rashi said that the yoreh’ never misses. it truly is always on time. After we've become accustomed to drought it comes with promises of new growth and development. It cleans the old and creates excellent conditions for the new.
The first rain this year came with confidence and strength and gave everything a good good washing, as if it knew about the sandstorm that had occurred. It soaked the earth to a perfect depth.
The garden plants now seem to be standing more upright. Finally they "breathe a sigh of relief" without the haze that had choked them and they feel the promising conditions. I'm sure that if I’d have measured the size of the leaves before and after the rain, we’d find a growth spurt. It was a big success for all those growing in the garden. I hope it continues.
The yoreh’ (יורה) is composed of the root letters ר.ו.ה. Another grammatical form of this root is Moreh (מורה) or teacher because the first rain instructs us to clean the drains, cover the barbeque, repair the roofs, take in the bikes, and finally buy a pair of good rain pants….
I figure that in a climate such as ours, the first rain after such a long dry season definitely deserves its own name and its own word.
I have published lots of rain Stories and how to bring rain in previous newsletters:
I wish that only sweet rain will come down on us from the heavens….
Have a quiet week with hopes for growth and peace.
Maggie and the garden staff
I expect in our organic vegetable baskets (draft only):
Tatsoi
Mizuna
Cucumbers
Zucchini
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Onions
Pumpkin
Eggplant
In large vegetable baskets also:
Rocket
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes
Organic fruit baskets;
Oranges
And pears
In large organic fruit baskets also:
Peaches
And red grapefruit
