Faith Gardener

Tower of Abstraction

As an adjunct to the story below I added the photo of my creation "Tower of Abstraction" which is merely a number of pieces that would have ended up in someone's fireplace as kindling,
placed on a seven foot tower (all recycled lumber).

Woodworking using recycled lumber

I make woodcrafts from any number of recycled wood pieces, including 2x6's with nails in them (till I remove them), castaway 4'x'8' plywood of various types, and plumwood from a tree that used to stand in my front yard. I took the felled trunk pieces to Max's Lumber Mill north of Camas by Skunk Hallow and he milled them into 3/4"x 6"x 8' pieces. It was my first attempt at curing wood and I did badly by ordinary standards because the wood warped. However, I couldn't have asked for better because warped wood adds to the character of the wood from which I make various items e.g. "birdhouse pickets" (I'm holding one).

I custom make everything, no two pieces are alike, and, I could make something for you by your design. 360-335-0503.

Thanks for stopping by.

Vern Schanilec

Dictionary of Bible Plants

About 15 years ago I connected my interest in plants to my faith. I became a Master Gardener and much has transpired since. Depending on whose count you use there are over 200 plants in the Bible, many mentioned by name, some by inference. Three varieties of wheat are part of the count whereas I count wheat as one though there are other plants such as emmer and durum that fall into that class. My count is around 185.

If you were to hold the book in your hand you would find that Theophrastus of Eresos (371-287 BC) is considered the Father of Horticulture. He wrote 227 treatises which seems marvelous for his time. You would also learn of the role plants have in metaphor, what I call "the spiritual language of the Bible". Usually it means there's more to it than meets the eye of the passage. What did Jesus really mean when he spoke of a withered fig tree. He was referencing Israel and their fall from God.

You would learn that gardening began around 8000 BC, the Pleistocene Era, in the Near East (which is Israel and surrounding countries. You would learn of the Jewish Feasts and Calendar that compose their Sacred Year, and how plants are an integral part of the observance. For example: Passover begins with the barley harvest, and the wheat harvest brings them to Pentecost, six or so weeks later.

Whenever you see a painting of Adam and Eve in the Garden what fruit does Eve have in her hand. If you say "apple" you are wrong. The Hebrew word yields "fruit of the tree", not apple. Painters have taken license to depict the fruit as an apple but anyone who grows them seriously knows it was too hot in Israel's summer to support the apple plant back then. Apples have been hybridized and today are found in Israel.

The book is full of interesting plants that speak to horticulture, faith and, in particular, how important plants were in Jesus' teachings of Parable.

If you'd like to contact me, my email is vschanilec@comcast.net.

In Faith (and happy gardening),

Vernon Schanilec

New Book: Pretty But Don't Touch Or Eat

 

This book is about harmful and allergenic plants. Most authors use the word "poisonous plants" in the title which I disdain. Though realistic, I prefer not to use it because there's more to the story. There are 850 plants in the book which makes it the most complete collection in North America. What I found somewhat startling is that we have around 700 of them in our landscapes!

Therefore, an education process is in order. Firstly, you've done well so far so don't get alarmed and tear out some of your beloved plants. It's about knowing what parts of the plants are poisonous and how to go about safeguarding your family and, very importantly, your pets. The information you get from the book will not only make you aware of the circumstances around you but feel better knowing you are in control. Then, there's your neighbor's landscape to consider.

Unfair as it is, all but the red ripe tomato fruit is edible; everything else is poisonous. Same for potato. They belong to the same family which includes Belladonna, which you may recognize as poisonous. Interestingly, animals process some plant parts differently than we. Deer like tomato blossoms and besides driving you mad, they feel no adverse effects.

In addition to the poisonous plant information, I include gardening tips that will help you select plants for your landscape: plant growth-habit, zones etc. A feature you will enjoy is that the color of the berry is the color of the word. Makes for easy identification. Did you know that marigold is the name of an Etruscan god; and is derived from "Mary's Gold" as associated with Jesus' mother.  I include lore and legend information as well.

Also included is the emergency phone number specifically for this topic. Calling 911 may delay your getting the information you need. For starters, the universal phone number is 1-800-222-1222. The call is automatically sorted by area code and transferred to the Poison Control Center nearest you.

If you'd like a copy of the book, it's $30.00 including sales tax and shipping. The easiest way at this point is to call me 1-360-335-0503. To contact me via email, click on "About" in the upper left corner.

Thanks for stopping,

Vern Schanilec

Washougal WA

Our 50th Wedding Anniversay

The Parallel of Life

 

There is a parallel of life at work at all times concerning humans, plants and faith. For us, sperm meets egg and fertilization occurs. Life emerges, grows, matures, blossoms, fruits of our endeavors are evident and we share them with others in our harvest.  It is much the same for plants: the seed is placed in the ground and germinates. We fully expect that to happen, taking for granted the miracle just occurred. That miracle is in place with both humans and plants. The plant emerges, grows, matures, blossoms, and fruits are shared in the harvest. The seed of our faith life is planted, whether at baptism or one of any number of events in our lives. It emerges, grows, matures, blossoms and we harvest the  fruits of our faith, sharing with others. The question could be asked: where would we be without plant images to demonstrate the teachings of life and faith?

      You see, it isn’t just about a pretty face, a pretty plant. It’s about metaphor, and how plants represent the spiritual language to get the point across.

To contact me via email, click on "About" in the upper left corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

My dear daughter Debra is still taking me by the hand and showing me new things about life in the blog. Now, at the bottom of each entry is the opportunity for you to comment. Be assured, the site is secure from spam and your email address is concealed; and it's free. It does require signing in, which is a drag, but follow the bouncing ball, it's a one-time thing and good for future visits. Avid bloggers can get into comment feed if you want to. Debra says for me let it go for now.

Many thanks for your visit, Blessings Always,
Vern Schanilec

 

To contact me via email, click on "About" in the upper left corner.

What is this blog about?

In the minds of some, perhaps many, the words religion and Christianity have taken on a negative connotation because some of the people who claim to represent it have too often behaved badly. They want to shove their standards down our throats. Some of the leaders are hypocrites living their secret lives. This is what the inherently secular so-called News industry shows the world, almost never displaying the good. The results are proportionally devastating. If all the leaders of Christianity behaved as they preached, there would be no News of them and we'd all be the richer. Between they and the corrupt behavior of some Christian leaders, it's a one-two punch that is knocking religion out of the box.

I wish to offer you a new way of looking at faith ergo spirituality. Using passages from an ancient manuscript known as the Bible in the context of the Plant Kingdom (Plants of the Bible), I will demonstrate to you how I see what was meant to be from the beginning.

I use the word unity, small u, to represent whatever deity, source or inner spiritual depths is contained within your body, soul, heart and spirit. I want unity not to be a noun but a verb, in that, it is a living, moving, loving, unifying on-going event that is meant to enrich and transform your faith. My hope is to show you a way to being a beacon of hope for others while not lording it over them.

I hope as you check this site from time to time and absorb what I have to say it will be useful in your life.

Should you want to know more about my unity approach to spirituality, click any of the plant Page(s) in the right hand column without the asterisk. Should you want to full meal deal, my book Your Garden, Your Eden is for you, for which an **asterisked Page is present in the right hand column. It contains 313 pages covering 180 plants with almost 400 graphics. Bible plants have a single *asterisk.

Everybody has a story to tell and many want a way to put in print but don't know where to start. If you are one of those, select The Orphan Press in the right hand column.

Blessings Always,
Vern Schanilec

To contact me via email, click on "About" in the upper left corner.