From the garden
This morning I wandered out into the garden and picked some raspberries, brought them in and ate them for my breakfast. Such a simple thing, so easy, but it made me feel remarkably happy. In fact, right now we are eating something from the garden pretty much every day. The current biggest producers are courgettes, sugar snap peas, lettuce and other salad leaves and some of the herbs. Every time I go out and pick something that I have grown I feel good – I get a genuine buzz from it. But it’s more than that – it means I know what artificial chemicals went onto my food (basically none) and I know how far it has been transported (a few metres) and I know that it’s genuinely fresh; I also know that lots of the nutrients came directly from compost that I made in the garden from “waste”. All these benefits add up to something big for me personally, but also make a contribution to the health of the planet.
Alone, I know I don’t make much difference globally – my small steps mainly benefit me. But what about everybody’s small steps when taken together? And what if my small steps on my path inspire other people into taking small steps on their own path? Making changes can be really daunting, but what if we only consider the first tiny step and take it from there? It makes me think of the quote from The Lord of the Rings:
It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.
J.R.R Tolkien
But in this case, I don’t think it’s dangerous, I think it’s exiting, empowering, inspiring. Don’t be daunted by the road ahead. Plant a seed, make a change, take someone’s hand or pick up your staff and step out onto that road… somewhere down the line you might end up somewhere amazing.
The Snail of Happiness 
Going Batty in Wales
/ July 1, 2020My raspberries have been disappointing this year but like you I am eating something from the garden every day and have been freezing blackcurrants. The more I garden the more I learn and the more I grow. It is indeed a journey and to get anywhere we have to take the first step. Like you most of the things I do benefit me first and foremost but by sharing words, seeds, produce, kindness… I hope to help others along the way.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 1, 2020Throwing a tiny stone into a pond can create ripples that spread a long way
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nanacathy2
/ July 1, 2020You could aalso argue that it makes you healthier and therefore not likely to need the NHS at this moment in time.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 1, 2020Good point!
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CarolCooks2
/ July 1, 2020Well done to eat from your garden everyday is a wonderful achievement 🙂
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polesparadise
/ July 1, 2020Our small steps add to your small steps. We too had home grown fruit for breakfast (cherries, raspberries, tayberries, strawberries and jostaberries – a few of each). Peas and salad for lunch, though we caved for dinner & went to the chippy! Well done to all of us who make small steps. 🙂
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katechiconi
/ July 2, 2020And don’t forget the power of barter. We are eating passionfruit and lemons from one neighbour, and mandarins from another. In season, they eat our bananas…. Healthy variety and diversity.
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Kim
/ July 2, 2020If everyone made a little effort like this it would add up to something big. Let’s all keep doing our little bit.
Enjoy your home grown produce 😊
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Nice Piece of Work
/ July 2, 2020The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Lao Tzu. Smart chap.
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tialys
/ July 2, 2020I’m watching my figs ripen and hoping I get to eat some before the wasps/birds/dogs get to them first.The aftermath of the dogs eating figs is not pleasant.
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DawnGillDesigns
/ July 2, 2020or what we call in #GillyTowers ‘the smug factor’ 10 years into our allotment, and it’s still a joy to look at a plate and point at the food on it shouting Mine! Mine! Mine!
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The Belmont Rooster
/ July 4, 2020It is great to go to your garden and pick fresh vegetables you know about. No chemicals! I planted a nice row of sugar snap peas so I could freeze some. Unfortunately, they turned out to be snow peas. They are good, too, but who needs that many snow peas? LOL! I planted a lot of Kale because I have to share it with the cabbage worms. The tomatoes are doing great and I am trying fava beans for the first time. I hope you are well, my friend! Thanks for sharing!
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lynnefisher
/ July 8, 2020So satisfying and also grounding in these turbulent times. My hubby and I have a couple of blackcurrnat bushes which deliver to us every year. It will be time to pick them soon forf reezing to enjoy throughout the year. Not a lot in terms of garden produce, but just right for us!
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