I put the garden to sleep in the fall. The next day, we woke up to a thick frost, the sound and smell of the heat running, and that very distinct cold and wintry feeling. It was the last season I will spend with that garden (which had grown to be my favorite place on earth), and I couldn’t be more thankful for it. It had been so good to me.
I had grabbed the last of the sweet potatoes, potatoes, peppers + dill. The quiet hum of the dehydrator + the soft smell of herbs filled the house as I washed + scrubbed the root veggies. It made me feel incredibly nourished + cared for. The earth truly gives us everything we need. Flowers that brighten the kitchen, nutrient dense and delicious fruits + vegetables. Spices for our food. Lumber to build with. Fresh oxygen, sweet honey, warm sunshine. And it all comes at the right time.
I’ve truly fallen in in love with the divine cycles of the earth. She yields calorie-dense root veggies in the fall, but cool crisp cucumbers in the summer. Exactly what my body needs and craves. It’s enough to make me emotional. The morning sun signals to my eyes that it’s time to be energetic. The sunset makes me sleepy. I didn’t realize how disconnected I was from myself and from the earth. One morning, I drank my tea and watched the sunrise, basking in the golden warmth. I thought “This ordinary miracle happens whether I am here to witness or not.” How many mornings had I rushed to get ready, all the while this incredibly beautiful moment was happening while I was distracted in my own head? What other miracles was I missing? What else could I slow down and savor? With what other other parts of myself had I lost touch?
I have a tattoo that says “Draw me away”, the opening of Song of Solomon. And I’ve spent this season being lured into solitude, seduced into quiet and stillness, and drawn away to savor a collection of simple yet divine moments.
I’m so thankful for this special time to reconnect with my food, the ground, and water. With the change in the seasons, the sun and the moon. Nature reflected in my own rhythm + cycles. Not only is it empowering, but comforting as well. I see all of nature conspiring together for good.
(from the archives)