Sowing seeds

by Katrina Pinn and Mark Hughes

Within the garden we carry a wealth of life-force which replicates nature in its wild and free state. We plant flowers to attract the bees, to help pollinate the plants. We enrich the soil through love and care and introduce diversity through a vast amount of flowers, vegetables and trees. We invite a rich life-giving world to everything around us. 

Spring through to summer brings us the bright green and almost illumines leaves of the delicate yet dominating beech tree. We can feel the vibrations from the poached egg plant buzzing full of joy with the circulating honey bees. We obey spring’s forthcoming warmth with her ever-demanding battle with the frost, and by doing so we succumb to knowing there are larger forces than ourselves. When working in the elements we are working with our inner beings; each day brings new teachings and challenges. There is a wealth much richer than ourselves, in such a simpler version than ourselves - in this peace we can find true happiness and beauty. 

I see beauty when I look up and observe someone having a quiet smile to themselves; when I see someone running though the garden in warm April showers, then laughing that the onions will be happy; when we weed next to another who bursts out in joy at the amount of happy worms in the soil; when we battle with the midges through September whilst compost making, and somebody stops to take a breath, and can enjoy the sweet scent of silage. 

When autumn comes in a way we are sad yet grateful to begin to slow down again, the trees slowly turning into a bright warm glowing fire colour of orange and red. Steadily we settle the soil, letting it begin to rest for the cold wintery months and happily we retire our hand forks. Winter cascades her heart over the skies with a pink, orange and lilac glow, with mornings holding a cosy blanket of mist along with mystery. 

As the weather turns ever colder, our purposes turn to working with the wood; we saw and stack and split, all the while enjoying the nature in its harsh moments. Somebody splits a piece of wood and discovers the most beautiful pattern within which nobody has ever discovered before. Another person may saw a piece of wood and find a burst of life from its powerful sweet-smelling cherry-like scent. The warmth of the stove gathers us together like a family, sharing stories and smiles; we become creative through wreathe-making and gathering pine cones for decorations. We begin to think of others who can’t share what we can. 

Then the once bitter ice is past and before we know it the first signs of life begin to show with the little white heads of the snow drops. Soon we will again feel the warmth of a new year beginning, like a loving hug upon returning home from a long yet peaceful journey.