All Hands In
"The heart is the toughest part of the body. Tenderness is in the hands." — Carolyn Forché
My garden on May 6, 2026
Happy Monday,
This Monday morning has me feeling extremely grateful to my hands and all the work I put them through over this past weekend. Thought I would share a few words I wrote this week for my book about the power and gratitude for our hands.
After a pretty insane spring storm on Wednesday, I had to work like crazy to get all my seedlings in the garden this weekend so I could get on a plane this morning.
In addition to my tribute towards our hands I am also sharing the video of a lovely tour I did a few weeks ago with Kaitlin Mitchell of Rutabaga Gardening.
Interesting fact about Kaitlin, she developed gardening tools that would easily fit into the hands of a child. All part of her educating and teachings for children about gardening. A great interview and tour of her beautiful San Diego garden.
Now the tribute to our hands…
Stop and look down at your hands. The two elements at the end of your arms that assist you in most things you do every day. Think of the blessing that these two attached devices, with hopefully five fingers on both, that bring you such gifts each day.
Think of how some people through life circumstances have only one or in some cases none. A reminder of what a blessing our hands truly are to each of us when they are intact and serving us.
Hands are without a doubt a gardener’s best friend. While we can use so many tools in the garden, none compare or can even be used properly sometimes without the use of our hands.
They do so much from our fingers planting the tiniest of seeds to digging holes and pulling weeds. From deadheading to cutting flowers and arranging beautiful bouquets. Our hands by the end of the gardening season have clocked hundreds of hours of being such a great benefit and tool for us.
Looking at my hands, and my inspiration for writing about them, they are in fact, clicking on the keyboard to actually do the writing, instantaneously flowing from my mind to my hands.
I see how much my hands have changed since I was a little girl biting at my fingers when I would become nervous or agitated. Have you ever done that?
As my hands age, they are beginning to look so much like my mothers. Some sunspots and a few of my fingers twisted and turned from arthritis. I remember on my mother’s last day of life when she was in a deep coma nearing the end, holding her hands for those final hours. Feeling the pulse under her skin knowing after this day I would never have the chance to hold her hands like this again. I remember those moments like they were yesterday though 17 years have come and gone.
I think about the generations of hands of not only the women in my family, my grandmother, great grandmother, and great Aunt, but also those that worked the land I steward that I will never know. From the Arapaho Tribes that lived on this land generations ago, to the family that built our home over 50 years ago, leaving the more immediate imprint on this land. So many hands working to live their lives.
How will your hands serve you in the week ahead? How have they changed over the years? How can you pamper them to show your gratitude?
Have a great week ahead!
Plant often and with Love!
Cheri
Cheri Ruskus
Author and Founder of Grow You Girl
