This afternoon, Lucy was buzzing with excitement for one of her favorite little adventures—a ride around the neighborhood in our golf cart. But before hopping on, she paused and asked for a snack. I expected her to dart to the pantry. Instead, she darted outside.
A moment later, she reappeared—golf cart ready with a proud little fistful of green beans, freshly snapped from our porch garden.
That’s right. My six-year-old bypassed packaged snacks and picked her own, straight from the vine.
It may seem small, but I honestly could’ve cried (and okay, maybe I teared up a little). Because this wasn’t just a snack. It was a choice—one rooted in curiosity, in connection, and in the slow, sacred beauty of growing something with your own two hands.
You don’t need a full-blown farm to teach your kids about where food comes from. A few pots on a porch, a small raised bed, or a sunny kitchen window with herbs is more than enough. What matters is the experience:
Watching seeds sprout into life Watering and caring for something daily Seeing the miracle of a bloom becoming a fruit Learning that food doesn’t have to come in plastic Discovering that snacks can be crunchy and come from the earth Realizing that God made it all and called it good
A porch garden teaches kids patience, responsibility, and wonder. It gives them ownership over something that matters. It invites them to nourish and be nourished.
So yes, Lucy’s snack today was just green beans.
But it was also pride. Independence. Wholesome delight. And a quiet little victory for everything we’re trying to teach her: to be present, to be mindful, and to appreciate the good things God gives us through His creation.
And let me tell you, those green beans never tasted sweeter.
Raising Light 