5. Learning by Doing

Wah Kam Kwan of Hong Kong first decided to plant a garden to supplement her home storage. She had never attempted to grow her own food but assumed she could learn all she needed to know by reading books.

Although the information she found was helpful, Wah Kam soon discovered that the greatest lessons she learned came through the process of actually planting the garden. With each additional year of experience, she has learned more about the best soil to use for different seeds, how to recognize good seeds, various ways to water and fertilize plants, and the best seasons to grow various vegetables.

The lessons Wah Kam learned were not limited to gardening alone, however. One evening, a terrible storm threatened to destroy her garden. In the morning, she was surprised to discover that the plants were not damaged, but instead, grew stronger from the additional water.

"From that experience, I learned that with faith in God, we can become stronger as we face our trials and difficulties with courage," Wah Kam says. "The blessings I have received from gardening are both temporal and spiritual."