As a Food Forest Designer, a lot of people come to me with fear in their hearts.
Societal Collapse is definitely a valid concern and I can absolutely sympathize. My challenge to those whose motivations come from self-preservation to see things a little differently.
What if food
success
& low maintenance wasn't the only goal?
I'm not one to let fear stay in my heart and drag me down but just for fun, say the worst case happens and we have no food, no water and no internet. Say you loose everything in a fire or flood. What can you carry with you? How can you survive?
As always we must look to our ancestors for wisdom.
What did the Native people do when they were forced to move from their homeland?
They carried seeds, culture, community and love for the land.
One of the 12 permaculture principles is to "Obtain a Yield". At first glance, the immediate thought is something to harvest and eat but I've been pondering this lately and I believe there is a whole world of "yields" we do not fully appreciate or understand.
Some Yields that are close to my heart are:
Learning to collect seeds
Learning to store seeds
Learning to plant with the moon
Learning the Lesson of Patience
Learning to Work with the Seasons
Learning to Rest when the plants rest
Learning to Propagating Cuttings in the winter and spring
Learning the lifecycle of local Insects
Learning the timing of disease
Learning the way water moves across the landscape
Learning the direction of the bitter winter winds
Learning the placement of the shadows throughout the year
Learning the song of the birds in the area
Learning is the greatest Yield of all.
It will go wherever you go and can be shared abundantly and freely forever.
Relationships take time and you are starting a relationship with your garden, your space, and Mother Earth. Slow down, let the lessons sink in and enjoy the beauty of being a part of all creation.
In gratitude and blessings,
Cynthia
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