In the beginning, God created a garden.
Before cities, before commerce, before kingdoms and nations—before there was even sin in the world—there was Eden. A garden was the first environment God crafted with His hands and gave to His son, Adam. It was not merely a place of beauty, but of provision, of discipline, of responsibility, and of life itself. In that garden were all the fruits and vegetables necessary to sustain the first family. And in that divine act, God gave us a blueprint. A holy image of what provision truly means.
If we are made in the image of God, and if we are to walk in His likeness, then we must ask: what does it mean to be a father in the image of our Father? The answer is profound in its simplicity—we must build gardens.
The First Gift
Genesis 2:8 says, “And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.” That’s the starting point. God didn’t hand Adam a warehouse full of preserved goods. He didn’t drop him into a palace or fortress. He gave him a garden—full of living, growing, nutritious plants that needed tending, care, and relationship.
That was the environment that God deemed perfect for His child. And as fathers today, we must reflect on that truth. Are we giving our children what God gave to His? Are we following our Father’s example? Or have we outsourced this divine responsibility to grocery stores and drive-thrus?
A Father’s Divine Mandate
A garden is not just about food. It is about stewardship. It is about getting your hands dirty, literally and spiritually. It is about waking up early to water and staying up late to research soil health. It is about learning what grows in your region, what fruits bear in your season, and which vegetables nourish your children most.
Too many fathers today have been convinced that their role ends at the paycheck. But God’s example says otherwise. Provision is not just financial—it is physical, emotional, and spiritual. And in no place is that more evident than in a garden.
To feed your children with what you’ve grown from your own soil is to introduce them to a God-like diet. Fresh, clean, organic nutrition—unpolluted by the processed, pesticide-ridden systems of industrial agriculture—is one of the highest forms of care a father can provide.
Becoming Adam Again
Adam was not just the first man; he was the first steward. God gave him a job: “to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15). Adam was to tend the garden. He wasn’t a passive recipient of God’s bounty. He was active. He was present. He was accountable.
To become God-like, we must first become Adam-like.
That means we must return to the soil. We must rediscover the joy and weight of responsibility in the garden. We must name the plants in our own lives—not just in words, but in familiarity. Our children should know kale not as a word from a menu, but as a leaf they’ve picked. They should understand tomatoes not from a can, but from a vine. This is how we walk with God in the garden again.
Practical Obedience in Your Growth Zone
You don’t need acres of land to obey God’s call. You need obedience, not abundance.
If you have a balcony, grow herbs. If you have a yard, plant lettuce. If you live in an apartment, consider hydroponics or vertical gardening. It’s not about how much space you have; it’s about what you’re willing to do with the space you’ve been given.
Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish. He doesn’t need much to do much.
Every region has a growth zone—certain fruits and vegetables that thrive in your climate, your soil, and your season. Learning your growth zone is like learning your spiritual assignment. It’s where your garden will grow best. And by taking the time to understand it, you’re honoring God’s design for your family’s provision.
Nutrient Legacy: A Weekly, Monthly, Yearly Calling
This isn’t just a hobby. This is a lifestyle. A commitment. A legacy.
The garden should not be an occasional addition—it should be a foundational component of your home life. Your goal, as a provider, is to create a level of sustainability in your garden that can supplement—if not fully satisfy—your family’s nutrient needs week by week, month by month, year by year.
It doesn’t have to be perfect or all-encompassing. But it must be intentional.
When your child bites into a cucumber you grew with your own hands, they are eating more than a vegetable. They are receiving the fruit of your labor, your care, your time. They are being nourished by love. And more importantly, they are being raised in alignment with the image of God.
The Missing Piece in Modern Family Structures
The modern home is full of screens but starving for soul food. Our children are well-entertained, but undernourished. They are overexposed to sugar and chemicals, but underexposed to sunlight and soil.
It’s not enough to pray over processed food. We must begin to partner with God in the production of our meals. We are co-laborers with Christ. That includes the dirt under our fingernails.
A garden re-centers the home. It slows the pace. It creates routine, rhythm, and reverence. It teaches patience and reward. It brings the family together. In the evening light, watering your plants with your children, watching tomatoes ripen or strawberries emerge from flower to fruit—these are holy moments. They’re not small. They’re eternal.
My Journey: Why I Built a Garden for My Family
When I had the opportunity—when the moment came to choose between convenience and conviction—I chose to plant a garden.
It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t perfect. But it was real. It was mine. And it was for them—my family.
I remember the first harvest. My vision of my children’s hands pulling carrots from the earth, laughing at the dirt-covered roots. I remember the smell of basil fresh from the stem, the taste of sun-warmed tomatoes. These aren’t just memories. They are milestones in my calling as a father.
I didn’t just give my future amily food. I gave them a picture of God’s love. Of His provision. Of His care. And I believe that every father—regardless of where he lives, how much he makes, or what skills he currently has—can do the same.
A Garden Is a First Step Toward the Kingdom
This isn’t just about plants. It’s about purpose. About priorities.
Jesus taught the kingdom through parables of seeds and soil, trees and fruit. That wasn’t random—it was revelation. The kingdom of God is like a garden. And as fathers, we must become kingdom men. Men who plant, tend, protect, and provide.
Start with what you have. Ask God for guidance. Learn your soil. Commit your time. And watch as the garden becomes more than just a source of food—it becomes a foundation of faith.
Final Thoughts
If we are truly to be fathers made in the image of God, then we must return to Eden—not just spiritually, but practically. The first gift God gave His son was a garden. And we, as sons and fathers, must carry that torch.
Let’s build gardens—not just in soil, but in spirit.
Let’s return to the ground where God first walked with man.
Let’s feed our families not only with food, but with faith.
And let us, like Adam, hear the voice of God walking in our garden in the cool of the day.
cassarly 