Less time making the dream, more time living it & The Tree of Happiness

[Jacob Robinson]

I live on four acres, and for for too long I was spending far too much time trying to make everything perfect. I had a long list of projects I wanted to get done, and the more I looked at it, the more it stressed me out. Eventually, I had to stop and write down all my projects and prioritise them by what actually mattered most. That’s when I realised the most valuable ones were the projects that would save me time, not the ones that looked the best, or made for a nice photo, but the ones that gave me a bit of my life back.
Things like heavily mulching all the garden beds, putting in irrigation lines and dripper lines, and even preparing for some livestock (so I don't have to mow as much). I’ve accepted that there’ll always be some weeds, the lawn can get a bit longer than I’d like, and the plants will survive if they get watered tomorrow instead of today. This way of thinking led me to what I call 'Our Tree of Happiness' a way of thinking about balance in our garden and in our life.

At the roots, you’ve got your personal values: mine are - family, friends, health, and the simple joy of growing things (hobbies).
The trunk is your required efforts: the work that keeps everything standing, whether that’s tending the garden, caring for children or even doing your paid job.
The branches are the projects and goals you choose to grow: new veggie gardens, a automation of the irrigation, maybe even those future sheep.
The leaves are your moments of joy: like picking strawberries and making jam with your daughter, sitting on the deck with friends and family eating good food, or it could mean going to the big smoke to see the wiggles (I Can't say I'm not looing forward to that haha).
With a bit of pruning, patience, and even perspective, the tree thrives.

Since shifting my focus, I’ve been able to put a few projects on hold, and that’s okay, I’ll get to them in another six months when the garden and lawns slow down. How about you? What helps you find balance between the things you need to do and the things you want to do (your trunk and branches)? What time saving things have you done in your life to improve your leaves?

If you’re always looking at your neighbour’s garden, you’ll miss the flowers blooming in your own... your tree grows best when you look after your own roots.” That’s something else I want to post about.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Gardening is all about health. If it doesn't make you happy, it's lost one of it's key factors. Good on you on figuring out your issue, and getting back to finding joy!

Plants are a living organism. Weeds and insects alike. Your plants will never look "perfect". But do they really have to be? Unless you are entering them in some sort of plant beauty pageant... it doesn't matter really. I have really ugly plants in my garden; but they produce and do what they are at their core for. And that all I want out of them.

I've reached a rough patch in life. I started abandoning my garden as I struggled. Many plants died. And even if they fruited, I didn't have the energy to pick them and turn them into something edible.
So... I went back to what I enjoyed most about gardening. I love smells. I used to pick off a leaf of lemon balm and rub it between my fingers for smell whilst I watered the garden. So now I've bought plants that I grow solely for their scent. I bought 2 types of mint, lemon balm and lemon thyme. So now, if I have to water them, I can pinch off leaves and smell them. Plus, if I want to, I can include them in my cooking. No deadlines like overripe or underripe fruit. No plants that requite a lot of attention. No plants that would die if I forgot to water for a day or two. No insects plagueing these plants. Just... peaceful, joyful gardening. I had to take a step back, in order to reset myself and move forward

 

[KIGardening]

Gardening is about good health and looking after 'Fat Mama' (Mother Earth). A garden does not need to be manicured. Fat Mama has evolved over millions of years to create species (plants, insects, animals etc.) that will take care of things as long you use it wisely, accept this and understand you are part of Fat Mama and in the end cannot control her.

A well looked after four acre garden with well implemented systems based on your demographic location and personal needs can literally provide nourishing healthy food all year round for for a family of 5-6 and for about 15-20 hours of work a week. Now 15-20 hours of work a week does not include spending your entire weekend in the garden. You can grab a coffee and do an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon with a cold beer or a glass of wine, pruning some bits, turning compost, walking your cow to a new paddock to graze while you enjoy delicious milk that doesn't taste like water. Don't forget to enjoy the view and embrace the weather, even when it rains or if it's cold. When there is some larger maintenance to be done invite a few friends/family over for a working party. Work first and then chill and laugh with a BBQ, fine organically locally grown foods and a wine if your into that and at some stage you will have to do the same for your friends/family. The human being is a social animal and need a good circle of friends and family with like minded values but each with their field of expertise to support that social structure.

There’s a big difference between feeding people and nourishing them. True food security is about nutrition, not just calories. And people can be self sufficient in nutritious food or part of it as long they want to take the action involved with them. A four acre block provides more than what a balcony in the big smoke does. Unfortunately too many people these days don't want to to that choose to play farm games (the best example of all ) on their device and have processed food delivered or go to the supermarket to get them. Making them sick and see a doctor, subscribing most times medication you don't even understand what is in there with all the side affects and legal disclaimers. Now not saying you should not take medication or avoid doctors, as there are moments you need too depending on your situation. If you are well fed with properly organically grown nutritious food you can withstand and or deal much better with situations that would make you feel sick or less happy. A lot of people don't realise that nutritious food also supports mental well being.

One of the biggest problems most people have these days is instant gratification. A tree does not grow tall within a year or bare fruit straight away. It takes years to achieve this and love and care to provide the rewards. But then don't forget that a tree has a limited lifespan. Nothing lives forever. So if an average lifespan is 40 years, make sure you plant the successor at 30 years of the tree, so that you can keep enjoying rewards coming your way.

Just remember that weeds are better than bare earth. The weeds still contribute to the soil life and structure. Bare earth has nothing to provide and takes a lot of time and energy to restore, but it can be done!

So look after Fat Mama, accept that she provides even when you don't like it or understand it at this moment.