02/19/2024
It’s February and we are talking a lot about seeds. We are buying seeds, starting seeds and even planning how to save seeds but that is just the season that we are in :) Living seasonally often means over consuming something, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. You almost want to scream out “NO MORE” when all those cucumbers are ripening and overflowing your baskets. And then, with just the right timing, something else comes along and takes its place. Strangely enough this is the way of balance. The feeling of ‘no more’ will only last a short while and then it slowly subsides. To be followed by the slow build up of longing for that thing. At the end of the summer we are swimming in zucchini. We have had our fill and put away as much as we will need. The animals are even over it! We enjoy relish, muffins and stir-frys over the winter but slowly that desire for a pan of freshly sautéed patty pan squash creeps up on you. Now I could go to the grocery store and buy one but that would throw things out of balance. Without that craving I may not be as enthusiastic when planting my seeds this spring. I may not tend to my seedlings as much. I am not sitting there in anticipation of their deliciousness. In a world of instant gratification we often feel uncomfortable with anticipation. By living seasonally in the garden you begin to embrace this feeling, knowing at the end of it will be a delicious, rewarding and nourishing treasure :) This is also true for some garden chores. It was Feb.1 and I spent a lovely hour cleaning up the garden from my fall mess. In the fall there is so much harvest coming in and stuff to preserve that garden clean up is at the bottom of the list. And then the cold hits and it’s impossible to do. Fast forward to now and I was blessed with a warm sunny day. The chore that was such a nuisance in the fall is now an enjoyable task that I am grateful and excited to do. The seasons come and go, sometimes we are in sync and sometimes we miss things. But by observing how we are feeling and approaching the garden (and life in general) we can start to see clues that lead us to choices that will bring balance and joy to our lives :)
