Companion Planting

​While I was a student in the horticulture department at Temple University, I learned so much that pointed directly to God. One of my greatest joys was collecting gardening books and looking at their beautiful plant pictures. The diversity of every form of plant is amazing. A practical little book that I purchased was called Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening by Louise Riotte. The book gives the reader recommendations for companion planting or planting certain vegetables or flowers near one another. For example, Carrots are good companion plants for leeks because the carrot fly that attacks carrots does not like the smell of leeks so stays away from their location. The other benefit is that the onion fly and leek moth are repelled by the smell of carrots so there is a natural protection of the leek. The book recommends that a gardener plant radishes around cucumbers and squash because they repel the cucumber beetle. Companion planting is helpful for organic gardeners who do not want to use chemicals on their plants.
 
A reason to plant tomatoes with carrots is because they have different root systems. Tomatoes grow above the ground while carrots are root plants. As I read about planting corn with pumpkins, I had to laugh. Pumpkin leaves are very sticky and repel racoons from coming to eat the corn. Why? Racoons do not like the stickery vines on their paws. Companion planting gives the gardener beneficial results. Plants, when placed properly, can actually help each other grow, which results in healthier and more productive gardens. The main message of this book is that plants grow to their fullest potential when surrounded by positive companions.

When we turn our attention to the Bible, we can see that God frequently uses gardening stories and plant analogies to demonstrate how Christians should grow and produce fruit. May I suggest that our workplaces, churches, and families are like gardens that can help us to grow in productive ways? All of us have God-given gifts within that are meant to help others grow into their unique potential to reflect the Lord. God ordained that we live with others and complement one another.

We are strategically placed in our friendships, marriages, workplaces, and churches to encourage and help others to produce fruit for the Kingdom of God. Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica: "Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing...Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else." (1 Thessalonians 5:11-15)

Romans 14: 19 in The Passion Translation exhorts us to "make it your top priority to live a life of peace with harmony in your relationships, eagerly seeking to strengthen and encourage one another." We are meant to be a blessing to others. As we help them to grow and become more Christlike, they will do the same for us.