Glean Daily

Taking a closer look to find insights in unexpected places.

Impressionist painting of three peasant women in a field gathering unharvested stalks of wheat.
“The Gleaners” by Jean-François Millet (1857)

The ancient practice of gleaning provided a dignified alternative for individuals with no land or limited means to provide food for their families. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were commanded to look out for those who were less fortunate, “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner.” (Leviticus 19:9-10)

Gleaning today generally refers to the gathering of bits of information in order to gain a better understanding of a complicated subject. I hope you will join me in this blog project as I share the insights I am gleaning by taking a closer look at the plants, animals and dirt in my backyard.

Latest Posts

  • Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

    We have the most beautiful shrub in our backyard. It blooms in early spring and produces fragrant deep purple blossoms that change color on the vine to lilac and then to white, before dropping off. At any given time, all three of the colors are on full display – which is why the shrub is… Continue reading

    Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

  • Composting

    Composting can be pretty disgusting. I’m not saying it isn’t a great thing to do, but for me, it’s right up there with cleaning the bathroom or unclogging a shower drain. Composting involves getting up close and personal with dead and decaying matter – stirring it up periodically – and then patiently waiting for results.… Continue reading

    Composting

  • Garden Tulle

    When we first planted our blueberry bushes, we were complete novices, and it took several years before they collectively produced more than a few dozen berries. After a lot of research – and numerous blueberry bush funerals – we finally had healthy plants producing delicious bowls full of fruit every day. We felt like legitimate… Continue reading

    Garden Tulle

  • Hidden in the Dirt

    Last fall, I cleared out a small space in my backyard and planted three different pairs of flowering grasses and shrubs. Each of the pairs of identical plants were the same size and came from the same nursery. Fast forward to this spring and the plants are doing beautifully. Their flowers are in full bloom.… Continue reading

    Hidden in the Dirt

  • In Search of the Sun

    It’s full-on Spring in Tallahassee and that means the star jasmine in our backyard is on the run! I love watching this climbing vine take off as soon as the weather warms up. The plants are rooted in the ground under a large grapefruit tree, and as sun-seekers, they are motivated to find a way… Continue reading

    In Search of the Sun

  • A Time for Everything

    We have a small grove of blueberry bushes in our yard that delight us every spring with delicious blue pearls of flavor. I have tried to take good care of them, but I don’t always remember when to fertilize and prune, so they probably qualify as “survivor” bushes. Tough, resilient and somewhat self-reliant. Earlier this… Continue reading

    A Time for Everything

Glean Daily

Lessons from the backyard by Jane E. Johnson

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