We are still getting through all those potatoes. The celebration meals are always that little bit more rewarding when you grew at least some of what’s on the table. A real visceral connection to the passing of another year, and reflecting on the different seasons and what came out of the ground. It’s kind of like watching your kids grow up, only on high repeat year after year rather than taking 18 years!
It has been a hot and mainly dry December which results in a lot of watering. The veggies have been watered at least every other day and I’m getting a lot of satisfaction that things are looking really productive. The wicking beds in particular have really turned around. They used to be a constant reminder that I needed to get on top of my veggie game, and now I’m happy to say I look forward to checking them out.
My main project in life is to figure out a different way to live outside the consuming capitalistic mindset. Growing food is a huge part of that. 2024 has taught me that what I seek really is a whole other, much slower, locally focussed way of life. The garden doesn’t have a holiday, it needs you to slow down and pay attention every day. To take food constantly requires input constantly in the form of new seedlings. Refining my methods needs me to learn from what else is growing naturally and to respond to the weather patterns. Very importantly it requires me to make connections with local, like minded people and learn from their experiences too.
I’ve come to look at it as the University of Life. The main lesson has been that the consuming culture we live in doesn’t value this way of living, which is the equivalent of at least a part time job. It is a hard pill to swallow when you realise that what makes your heart sing will never pay a mortgage and there are very few people within walking distance with anything close to the same outlook.
The systems we partake in value money above all else, which results in everyone’s time being measured for what it is worth in the short term from a financial perspective. Long term mental, physical and community health and the gift economy are a very low priority. I have lots to think about in 2025!
