Taking our Cues from Nature

Colourful poppies blooming in Jennifer’s father’s garden

The poppies, the lillies, the strawberries, raspberries and tiny tim’s are growing all around us; a feast for our eyes and for our bellies. This rich season of growing and harvest comes only when the time and conditions are right, after a long period of rest and quiet. The soil is warm, the rains come and go, then the sun breaks through and we all receive the gifts of a shady path in the park on a hot day or the delight of a snack picked fresh off the vine. 

So many of us have been limiting our own movement these long months. Life has been quiet and there have been storms, but the spirit was always there, just waiting for the right time to emerge. As restrictions lift, the energy in our little community has been bursting forth, colourful and delicious! We have seen richness exchanged at makers swaps where the fresh jams and winter knitting projects are gifts but secondary to the wealth of conversation and connection after such a long social drought. We’ve financial fertilized great ideas growing in community - launching garden spaces reimagining empty parking lots and unused green spaces, building community pantries and book libraries to nourish the mind and the body. New folks engaging as facilitators, sharing skills, and new hosts opening up their homes and hearts to an eager community. 

What can we learn from the natural cycles around us? Perhaps it is essential to pause and rest for generous stretches of time so we have the energy we need for action? Maybe we had to be forced to slow down so that we could appreciate the joy of a stretch after a period of confinement. What we can see right now is that the growing and harvesting season is upon us! If you have an idea for a community project you’d like to seed in the LifeSchoolHouse garden we are ready to grow

Written by Jennifer DeCoste