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Kevin Gelder's avatar

‘The garden is neither completely tamed, nor completely wild. It is a sort of co-authorship.’ More beautiful inter-being, collaboration and reciprocity. This reminds me of a phrase Morag Gamble (permaculturist) uses regularly: “I am the garden gardening.” 💚

Michael Owusu Nkansah, MEd's avatar

Woaw! I enjoyed reading this 'day in the life' narrative, uniquely told. Nature is my thing, so it really resonates.

Micha van Amsterdam's avatar

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the little narrative.

Brian's avatar

This spring/ summer the rain has been relentless. Everything that grows has exploded in growth or tries to. Last year it was so dry some of the oldest trees died in the top third after losing all their leaves, and many smaller plants and younger trees live now as feeble regenerating sprouts. These extremes are setting new records each year. It is solace to read of your patience and daily appreciation of the moments. But the ground is changing quickly. Each year we are anxious to see if pollinating insects survived. Gardeners have these worries, still not much of a concern for others.

Micha van Amsterdam's avatar

Hello Brian. This is very true, of course. These extremes in weather and climate, we feel them too. We had the longest heatwave since over 50 years in Belgium. And indeed, as gardeners, we take our time to notice these patterns, both the large ones and the smaller moments. And it also reminds me that it is a privilege to have a garden like this, and not to take it for granted.