Joenel,
making holes on the plastic mulch for the seedlings to be transplanted through
Last January 19, a few
friends of mine helped in the farm. In the picture, plastic mulch - a layer of
material rolled out on top of the raised-bed before seedlings are transplanted –
is shown.
Benefits
of Plastic Mulch:
1) Soil moisture retention
Plastic mulch reduces evaporation by preventing sunlight from reaching the soil surface, thus keeping the plants well-watered.
2) Weed
Control
Plastic mulch
prevents sunlight from reaching the soil which can hinder the growth of weeds –
one of the enemies of your plants. Weeds choke the plants,
entangle them and steal the soil’s nutrients away from them.
3) Aesthetics
Plastic mulch improves the visual
appeal of the area by giving the planting beds a uniform, well-cared-for look.
In
discipleship terms, THE SOIL IS LIKE YOUR HEART.
If
your heart – thoughts, feelings and will, with its intents and choices - is
always worn out or exhausted like a hardened soil, no seed will ever grow in
it. It needs to be kept moistened.
Furthermore,
weeds may come in the form of worries that can choke you, or wealth that can deceive
you, making you unfruitful (Matthew 13:22 rephrased).
Lastly,
the rigors of this life may just be too much for you, making your life disorganized
and chaotic.
The
only way for you to survive this life as a follower of Christ is with an ample
amount of PROTECTION. And that protection could be a combination of things - people
you’re in accountability with who pray for you and speak into your life;
spiritual disciplines like bible-reading and quiet time with the Lord that you
do daily; or just plain and simple humility to acknowledge that you cannot do
it on your own and that you need external intervention.
Whatever the case
may be, be encouraged by this promise from God:
The
LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a
spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11
