Day 349/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
With summer upon us and the seasonal rains beginning to drench the land, I'm mindful of my garden full of summer vegetables. Will they get too much water? Will the tomatoes over ripen?
The trick is to know the season well and work abreast with the seasonal changes.
The very best thing about loving to grow food is the constant supply of seasonal goodness. There's nothing quite so exquisite as taking a basket into the garden and picking tender beans, pumpkin tips, zucchini complete with flowers, shallots and garden ripe tomatoes to prepare for the evening meal.
Just this morning as I was consuming a juicy, sweet pawpaw I found myself lamenting that I wasn't able to grow them myself as they aren't suited to my climate. Yet there is so much more that is and I shall enjoy those with gusto, not taking them for granted as is so easily done when they are so readily available.
It's perfect for the budget conscious as I have been for the last 4 years. There's always something to feast on. Herbs and greens in Spring, watermelons, avocados and salad greens, carrots and beetroot in Summer, legumes and root vegetables in Autumn, and cruciferous vegetables in the Winter.
At this time of year I am baking and preserving to give as gifts for Christmas. Jars of chutneys are alchemised from the oversupply of chokos and pineapple. Tomato sauces with the abundance of those red trusses that come up all over the garden quite spontaneously. There will be an abundance of peaches and nectarines, apricots and cherries at the markets this weekend that will make for the perfect seasonal jams. All lovely Christmas gifts that last a while.
Growing and eating seasonal produce is a passion that I am grateful to indulge in, in my developing garden. I know there are no sprays, no chemicals and no long periods of cold storage. No picking under ripe before the goodness has developed. No forcing to maturity for the market. Just wholesome, garden ripened produce that is nutrition dense and delicious.
Bon Appetit!
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.
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