Every year around this time I start writing about gardens. I can’t help myself.
The seed that’s so small in February a single breath will send it flying across the room becomes a bossy five-foot-tall monster by September. That’s magical.
So I love starting seeds.
But I love planting bulbs even more. They’re easier. I don’t have to protect and coax them along like I do my seedlings, which – with three cats roaming around looking for a “salad” dinner – require a makeshift cage around my grow lights. (Yes, to my horror, the cats have dined on my baby plants. Multiple times.)
All I need is a bunch of bulbs, some pots, some soil, and – if it’s really cold – something to wrap them in.
Over the weekend I bought three enormous bags of potting mix – just barely enough for the ridiculous number of spring bulbs I purchased at massive discount a week ago. On a day when the ice was so thick you could skate on it, an urgent email from this bulb supplier caught my attention.
I was allured by the rock-bottom price and the idea of getting a grab bag of bulbs that I could sink into pots and dot throughout the yard if the ground thawed (which it did).
I do this every year – buy bulbs in the dead of winter, when everyone else thinks planting is a lost cause. It’s a lot of work to pot up or plant a few hundred bulbs, and there’s not a ton of daylight to do it in.
But I’m rewarded in April and May with the most beautiful blooms. Little daffodils peek out from pots and crevices along the stairs. Species tulips that I purchased on a whim have multiplied and are drifting down the hill. Big juicy tulips hang over the sides of pots that are bursting with hyacinths and crocus.
It’s that investment in time and energy that I put in now – when everyone else thinks it’s either too early or too late in the season – that always pays off later.
When spring comes, people will walk by and linger and smile. Sometimes if I’m outside they’ll stop and tell me they like my garden. Sometimes they’ll say something along the lines of “Oh I don’t have a green thumb,” or “I could never do this.”
And that’s when I tell them my secret.
I don’t overthink it. I just get to it, and get it done. Maybe it’ll work, or maybe it won’t. But I won’t know unless I get my hands dirty.
I am willing to make mistakes and give it a go. I’ve got a vision, not a schematic. I want the garden to evolve organically, to have its own energy. So I don’t want to button it down too much.
And it’s okay if it doesn’t come out exactly the way I thought it would. (Things rarely do.) I know that the time and energy that I invest will make something pretty. (I mean, they’re flowers. What could go wrong!)
And I can always improve on things next year.
So let’s bring this back to politics.
Sometimes I think that Democrats try so hard to have everything *just so* that we strangle the life right out of things. We’re so focused on doing everything perfectly, that we don’t do anything at all. We have white papers on white papers, for goodness’ sake. Folks are so afraid to say the wrong thing that they say nothing.
And don’t get me started on timing. “It’s too early in the season” becomes “it’s too late to make a difference” practically overnight. That’s when I see people throw up their hands and refuse to even try.
Nothing is going to be perfect. Nothing is going to go according to plan. But in politics as in flower gardening – something is almost always better than nothing. And nothing is going to happen if we don’t get out there and try.
So hat tip to you if you’re starting seeds or planting bulbs in pots this week. Know that I’ve got my green thumbs stuck in some potting compost myself. And another hat tip to you if you’re out there planting the seeds we need to start for success in November. I’m right there with you.
Let’s get to growing our gardens, and growing our movement.
I’m rolling up my sleeves. Are you?
Excellent. Let’s get to work.
Actions for the Week of February 6, 2024
Call Your Congresscritters: Stop The Antics
First Republicans claimed that securing the border was so critical that they would never fund Ukraine without significant immigration reform. The Biden administration negotiated with Republicans to come up with a bipartisan plan to do exactly that. The bipartisan bill is impressive in what it accomplished. If you’ve not seen Senator Murphy’s summary, you should watch because it will help you break it down for others. (Link: https://x.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1754316244470136978?s=20)
Now Republicans (with Trump out in front) are pulling the football away – openly tanking the bill (and aid to Ukraine) because Donald Trump told them not to give Joe Biden a win.
In other words, they don’t want to do what’s best for the American people, our allies, and national security, because they believe that doing so is best for them politically.
We need to be very, very loud about this. Especially if you live in a red state and have Republican members of congress, you need to call them to let them know that you are horrified they would put our national security at risk to give Donald Trump a talking point.
Script: Hi, my name is _____ and I’m a constituent at [zip]. I’m calling because I’m disgusted that there’s a bipartisan border bill that will also help our allies who are fighting a murderous dictator – and it sounds like Republicans are tanking this bill. I want to know what the Congress(wo)man’s stance is on this bill. Why on earth would s/he not support a bill that is so obviously in our national security interest? The only reason is to keep this issue as something to run on in 2024 – and that’s twisted. Seriously, stop the political antics, fund Ukraine, and pass this bipartisan legislation.
Phonebank to Flip NY-3!
No doubt Tom Suozzi’s race in New York is already on your radar. The end is in sight: election day is one week from today, and there are myriad ways to get involved. If you’re able to phone bank, and are a seasoned phone banker, Activate America has a great option that doesn’t require that you attend a specific zoom event. You can simply call on your own time. Check out the details here: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/596035/
You can also phone bank with the Suozzi campaign this coming Saturday or Sunday (multiple shifts available). More information and registration here: https://www.mobilize.us/suozziforcongress/event/596611/
Swing Your Campus Left! (H/T Sue Rogan of Rogan’s List)
This Thursday, join Swing Left for a 90 minute crash course called “How to Organize Your Campus.” From their description:
“As young people, we want to create a better future where we all have access to good paying jobs, quality health care, the power to make our own decisions about our bodies, clean air & water, safety from gun violence in our classrooms & throughout our daily lives, and more.
But Republican lawmakers are preventing this future from becoming a reality. They are attacking the most vulnerable, enriching the wealthy, and undermining our democracy by rigging the system to subvert the will of the people and uphold minority rule.
We can defeat Republican extremism at the ballot box in 2024 and beyond by focusing on electing Democrats in the most competitive races, where the time we spend writing letters, making phone calls, and knocking on doors with Democratic campaigns could literally decide the outcome of an election and who holds power in our government. You can get involved by starting a Swing Left group on your campus—the best way to multiply your impact and give other students the opportunity to make a difference on the issues that matter to them. Plus, taking action together is always more energizing, fun, and powerful than taking action alone!“
Here, here! The training is on Feb. 8 (Thursday) at 8pm eastern. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/595576/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Set Your Calendar: February 15 This Quarter’s National Indivisible Call
On Feb 15, 2024 07:00 PM (Central) Indivisible will be having a National Campaign Call – “a quarterly space for activists, group leaders, and new members alike. Join Indivisibles across the country as we celebrate successes; discuss our national strategy, and take time to create connections while building community with each other.”
Let’s get our game plan going! Register here: https://indivisible.zoom.us/webinar/register/9317044933058/WN_YLucpPN2Riazk5TvnmADBA?emci=84e7317a-06c2-ee11-b660-002248223197&emdi=39921344-1dc2-ee11-b660-002248223197&ceid=10758#/registration
WHEW! GO TEAM!
P.S.: Why don’t you make someone’s day and send this pep talk to a friend or two? I bet they need it.
If you’d like to sign up to get this pep talk and action list in your in-box each week, you can do that here. Welcome, friend!
P.P.S.: If you want to help support this work you can do so via Patreon at
https://www.patreon.com/smalldeedsdone or via paypal at https://www.paypal.me/smalldeeds
My deepest gratitude in advance.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for writing. I read and respond to every email! We’re in this together. Don’t you forget it.
Small Deeds Done 