I have swapped out watching television and lazy weekends for long daily walks, snowshoeing, snowboarding, backpacking, hiking and/or biking - whatever weather permits. This year I'm bringing back gardening and adding beekeeping to my outside activities. I'll probably be swapping out a fair amount of walks and long backpacking trips for it but luckily, I have a team of people that are enthusiastic, supportive and more than willing to jump in and help.
I am a formally educated horticulturist and have had various classes from soil chemistry and irrigation to pest management and plant propagation. However, I took a break from plants to discover the city-living lifestyle. I've reassessed and now see a way to live in a city but have my garden and eat it too. I've wound my self up and now I'm trying to undo the tight spool and migrate back to the things that are important to me.
I don't think there is a more satisfying act than growing your own food. Things that you've planted, watered, picked and prepared will taste so incredible. Some of your tomatoes, squash or herbs may be less than perfect but they will be precious. Witnessing a continuous cycle of birth, growth, bounty, harvest, death and rebirth is very meaningful. You nourish it and it is sacrificed to nourish you. You will have more of an appreciation for what it takes to raise a great tasting tomato from seed and you will most-likely feel a sense of gratitude for that fruit. What a great way to fill you and your loved ones’ tummies.
For information on my upbringing, check out my first post entitled Daphne 101.
I look forward to hearing your comments,
Daphne
