I have often written about why we choose to grow as much of our own food as possible. Health reasons. Financial reasons. Environmental reasons. Being-painfully-independent reasons. But the most important reason is for our own mental health…
Right now, between the racial tensions in the country, COVID-19, and the partisan divide, we all are stressed. Even if you don’t have to worry financially right now, it still is a time that provokes anxiety. That is why I grow vegetables. The time I spend in the dirt, digging, planting, weeding, mulching, harvesting and processing are moments when I connect with the larger universe, forget about my own petty issues, and find peace in my soul.
Yesterday, I spent the majority of my day on my knees in the garden. I planted, mulched and weeded. And I thought about my obligation to other humans, and what kind of a world I want for my grandchildren. At the end of the day, I was dirty and tired, but my heart was far less heavy than when I started.
Here are some pictures from our farm. Hopefully, they will make you smile.
The little chicks, in a clean house. Their names are Stella, Ethel, Scout, Papi and Kinko.
The big, woolly girls, hoping to convince me to bring them more grain. They were unsuccessful.
Our new raised beds, with perennial herbs and some vegetables. The picture on the right has Sam’s hot peppers in it.
And finally, a picture of Sam’s garlic, growing tall and proud.