Comfort clothes

When I am feeling tired, when I am feeling sad, when I feel I need some nurturing, I reach for my ‘comfort clothes’. These are for me, a pair of fleecy trousers, socks, T-shirt and Angora pullover, all in lavender. Somehow, when I am wearing these, the world seems less tough, I feel safer…..comforted. It feels I can relax, and just let my cares recede while I snuggle into my lavender cloud.

Colour plays a significant part in my life. The colour of the sunrise can enliven me, give me impetus for the day. And at the end of the day, the sunset can bring me to a pause, to reflect with gratefulness for the day.

As a gardener, of course colour is important. Not just for the flowers, but for all the shades of green and grey and red of the leaves. The subtleties of the shades can warn me of a potential health problem with the plant, or show me how happy it is. And the colour of the earth……ahh…….the infinite range there.

Texture is another important aspect. Softness equates with gentleness, soft and encouraging touch. Fluffy, soft Angora. It reminds me to show my softness, my gentleness. That I can be soft, gentle AND strong.

Bright colours have their place, but when I need some nurturing, it’s the pastel colours I reach for. Soft and easy of the eye. My skin seems to FEEL the difference. That’s why I have red woolly socks for winter activities – as I joke, they help me to run faster!

When I need my comfort clothes, I do not think intellectually about what to select….I simply trust my self to know. But it always comes back to my lavender cloud…………

Many ways

There are many ways to express a person’s sense of this earth, and distaste for what is happening to the earth today. Here is a view from an Aboriginal perspective, by kind permission from a friend of mine.

GOONDAWINDI FALLS

“Have you ever wandered at night outside of town, down by the lake, and listened to the sound of the Goondawindi Falls?

Have you ever sat still, back propped against the trunk of a stalwart tree and looked-up at the silent moon hanging in the sky — with its reflected light shifting upon the darkened waters of Lake Goondawindi — that lays at the foot of the crashing, splashing, sometimes trickling Goondawindi Falls?

And have you ever pondered the reason why the locals in their mud spattered cars, park about the perimeter of the lake after their night’s fill at the local bars?

The sounds of pop music from stereos clashing with their youthful mirth, while the groans and noises of their humping and bumping drifts across the night air. And the louts without a girl in tow, spin and squeal their tyres upon the ground and clown around, while the more single-minded fumble with garments — hormonal conquest and pleasure on their mind.

These falls, Goondawindi, have spilled its water into this lake since forever. This place — a sacred place — gives up its life giving juices in times of drought. This place — Lake Goondawindi made children — a fertile site — when the uninitiated were kept out. These waters soothed the mouths of initiate daughters — now speed boats roar, and fish no more. …”

(Read more here)

Rachel Carson

“THOSE WHO DWELL AS SCIENTISTS OR LAYMEN, AMONG THE BEAUTIES AND MYSTERIES OF THE EARTH ARE NEVER ALONE OR WEARY OF LIFE.”

Rachel Carson

Seeds

The summer has passed, and even though there is no consistent soaking rain, it is time for the autumn plantings in the vegetable garden. Of course, the question always is this – should I sow seeds while the ground is warm, or wait until the rains come? If I wait too long, the ground will be cold, and the seedlings will not grow as well. I may hedge my bets and try a bit each way.

With this in mind, I purchased some seeds this week. Now there are some very glossy seed catalogues, and plenty of seed stands in supermarket and similar multinational stores. I ignored them. I purchased my seeds from an Australian company that sells “The finest organic seed of the old traditional varieties. Our Food Heritage.”

These are seeds that I will be able to grow, then save the seeds from those plants for my future use. Over time, those plants will be adapted to my particular local conditions, and I will also be continuing the time-honoured tradition of saving old varieties of seed for future generations.

I am appalled by the consequences of GMO seeds. That is – Genetically Modified Organisms. Here’s what Brit Amos wrote in GlobalResearch.ca – Centre for Research on Globalization, March 25 2008 –

“Genetically modified seeds are produced and distributed by powerful biotech conglomerates. The latter manipulate government agricultural policy with a view to supporting their agenda of dominance in the agricultural industry. American conglomerates such as Monsanto, Pioneer HiBred and others have created seeds that reproduce only under certain conditions, often linked to the use of their own brands of fertilizer and/or insecticide.
The genetic modification of the plant leads to the concurrent genetic modification of the flower pollen. When the flower pollen becomes genetically modified or sterile, the bees will potentially go malnourished and die of illness due to the lack of nutrients and the interruption of the digestive capacity of what they feed on through the summer and over the winter hibernation process.”

And then there is the Doomsday Seed Vault, officially known as Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located on Spitsbergan Island, Norway. Some of the players in this are the Rockefeller Foundation, Monsanto, Syngenta Foundation, and the Government of Norway.

Somehow, I do not feel comforted by the presence of this vault. I do not believe that these investors have spent their money for the ‘public good’.

Thirty years ago my uncle, a commercial seed grower, was concerned about the changes to the industry and how the ordinary person was going to be disadvantaged by these big companies. No one wanted to listen to him then, and not many are listening now. But I remember his words, and I shall save my seeds. I know how to garden, but for me, it is more than simply growing food. It is a political statement. It is part of the journey of regaining personal power. It is saying – I know how to feed myself, I can survive. This you cannot take away from me.