I predict a riot. There will be an uprising, a rising from the roots of the seeds that are planted here. First in the dozens then in the hundreds then in the hundreds of thousands of new lives beginning, new shoots climbing from this womb of earth. Like 4000 onions. Another 4000 garlic (there is no such thing as too much garlic) all bedded in, burrowed and blanketed snug in the new laid soil. Positioned and planted each one with love, by warm hearts and cold hands. You just can't do it with gloves, regardless of fingers. And under the frost in the slumbering earth; the force for the fuse of Spring.
So it's been a bit choppy. A few small trees took time for a lie down, relaxing across the lane to some inconvenience for commuters and high speed connections on the autobahn route that is Bradwell Stream (Bradwell raging cataract fast becoming a small lake) Road, between us and Glastonbury Town. Sad to see the devastion of one beloved home, but glad to say not of it's beloved owner. Basically if it was canvass it ripped. If it was tarp it tore. If it was plastic (sadly including one of our pollies/plant nurseries in the first storm) it was lifted by the wind and it flew. But if it has walls it stood. And if it has breath in it's body and boots on it's feet, then it breathes and walks among us, dazed but dancing still.
Oh well there isn't that much to do in winter. Only clear all the beds, compost, weed, plan, meet, harvest, recompost, replant, cover, re-cover, build a new barn, new toolsheds, re-sand the duck pond that grew into a lake, consolidate the power systems, launch the new website, oh and build a restaurant. I predict a riot, of timbers and craftspeople, barrows and chisels, invention extention and jollification. Still, it'll give us something to do in our spare time.
Then there's education. Passion led learning launching in January. Children of all ages to share and to grow and to learn together. From growing your dinner to cooking it, from building a barn to learning a language, or music or story or making a fire. In all is to teach by example and to learn by that which inspires. Too much to talk about here, but more information on regular days and special events coming up soon.
Half of the fun is to share it with others. So much joy be had by harvesting, combining, preparing and sharing the goodness. Cooking up a storm and taking it to town. Receiving and giving with friends and with strangers and especially with those who may not have the freedoms or the choices we have. Some who have seen war, some kept in detention for nothing but nowhere to go. We won't be rioting refugee centres with banners and bitterness on our tongues. Instead, we will be bringing the banquet. To all of the mamas and papas and brothers and sisters whose hearts and whose hands have endeavoured to create something better. To make for themselves, for all of ourselves, a home.
Written by Gareth Davies, a Community Member
Comments