As a storyteller I listen to stories. Stories that people tell me are more often than not a mirror of their heart. Once upon a time (this is not a fairies story) a friend shared with me this experience that was told him by a work colleague. This is a true story.
The colleague of this friend began to develop and interest in growing their own food. This colleague spent time and effort preparing the ground planting the seed, pricking out the seedlings and feeding the growing plants until the day when he harvested them. He brought my friend a sample of his produce which he experienced so much delight in being able to share. My friend said to me when retelling this story, “Sure they were only a bunch of carrots – you could have bought better carrots for half the price and a quarter of the effort in the supermarket.”
That you can buy produce at half the price in the supermarket speaks volumes for the way that food production is valued and able to claim its rightful value. My friend does not know the absolute delight experienced in producing your own food. It is a very different experience to go to your garden or polytunnel and harvest the food you have tended.
There are many reasons why this is so. The primary reason is because you have engaged in actual co-creation. You have been engaged, not in a mechanical process, but a primary engagement with life. Growing food, for this storyteller, is a spiritual practice. Most people might not call it that but growing food is inspiring. It invites you to be attentive and present. You get physical. You get grounded. You get down dirty with your hands in the good earth. You reconnect to the natural process of creation and the act of creativity which moves as Love in action through you.
I love the food I grow. I love to look at it. If for me, is a work of art and a work of the heart. I know when I grow it that much of what I grow will be given away. This, in itself is a delight. I get what I give away returned to me in different ways. I give food way because I feel blessed with abundance.
Food grown in the garden or, or in my case, the polytunnel tastes so much more flavourful. Carrots bought in the supermarket are bland tasting by comparison. The colour of the food is so much brighter and the growth has not been for boosted by artificial chemicals.
The smallest of polytunnels will feed a family of four. This includes items such as tomatoes, potatoes, kale, onions, lettuce of all kinds, radish, garlic and an host of other vegetables including herbs. The growing in a polytunnel can be a family affair. Children can learn to connect to the earth and learn the art of cultivating life which is at the heart of real culture. Growing food is an art that has become deeply unappreciated and devalued.
As the price of oil rises the cost of food production and its related packaging and distribution costs will rise. The cost of buying and producing your own food will come more into alignment. The issue of time spent growing your own food and time spent earning money to buy food will become marginal. Except that the food you grow will impact you in ways that simply purchasing food in a supermarket never will.
 Image via Wikipedia |
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When my friend told me the story that ended by advising me that one could but better carrots in the supermarket at half the price my heart sake. These were the words of one who is a consumer and not one who is co-creator with the life force that births all things for the joy of creating.
| Saturday, April 9, 2011 |
| All Day |
 Growing in a PolytunnelA polytunnel is the best addition to any garden. It provides early season produce like early potatoes and spring onions. You can grow more exotic vegetable crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers an... |
| The Organic Centre Rossinver, Co. Leitrim Ireland |
Absoloutely brilliant idea Tony.
ReplyDeleteThankyou so much for taking the TIME to do this wonderful blog. Just what we need, get down and dirty. and enjoy the fruits of the earth.
Bright Blessing's to you and Bea.xx