Just lovely. I grew up on a council estate in post-war Gosport, near Portsmouth. There were allotments behind the houses that we weren't supposed to play in, but we did sneak in there from time to time. I remember my brother and I eating raw Brussels sprouts from a random allotment, probably on a dare. My father went round to apologize to the owner who told him not to worry about it. I didn't understand that at the time. I was expecting him to be upset. Perhaps he was delighted that young mouths would try fresh produce. Or perhaps he thought eating raw sprouts was punishment enough! Either way, I haven't eaten one since, raw or cooked.
Now I'm lucky enough to have room for my own garden and live in a place that celebrates that. I get it, what you're writing here, I do. 🍅
I’m a gardener and understand all this deeply. Thank you for describing the necessity of an embodied experience at this moment. I really appreciate that you framed this piece in that way. You broke something open I’ve been trying to express for a long time now.
This connects so beautifully with Meg Wheatleys notion of creating islands of sanity, beyond nervous system shredding, highly masked social obligations. The listed benefits are so beautifully tracked and shared. This is kind of an epic piece of writing
This was an absolutely lovely read. Thanks for sharing. Literally getting grounded and reconnected to the earth is a balm for the tech oligarchy times we live in. And perhaps the simple solution if enough people can rediscover their roots.
I really enjoyed this! It reminds me a lot of one of my favourite books from last year, the Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing. She talks about this bending of time you mentioned and how gardens can be a space for radical hope, though in her case it’s more of a focus on ornamental gardens than veggie patches. Thank you for sharing!
I am absolutely obsessed with this. Not only does it inspire me to bravely venture beyond my tiny raised bed garden but it also allows me room to be in relationship with the land as I do so. Plus, the way you described people sleepwalking away from their humanity! Every word felt like a, "Yes! That's exactly what's happening" in my body. Thank you.
Living in the U.S., I have a large backyard garden (thought I have enjoyed being part of a community garden) and I’m always here for the delight and all the things a garden teaches us and reminds us. Such a gift!
Just lovely. I grew up on a council estate in post-war Gosport, near Portsmouth. There were allotments behind the houses that we weren't supposed to play in, but we did sneak in there from time to time. I remember my brother and I eating raw Brussels sprouts from a random allotment, probably on a dare. My father went round to apologize to the owner who told him not to worry about it. I didn't understand that at the time. I was expecting him to be upset. Perhaps he was delighted that young mouths would try fresh produce. Or perhaps he thought eating raw sprouts was punishment enough! Either way, I haven't eaten one since, raw or cooked.
Now I'm lucky enough to have room for my own garden and live in a place that celebrates that. I get it, what you're writing here, I do. 🍅
Love this memory, John. Thanks for sharing!
Waving from Gosport!
We lived in Bridgemary in the 50s!
My husband is a Bridgemary boy!
I’m a gardener and understand all this deeply. Thank you for describing the necessity of an embodied experience at this moment. I really appreciate that you framed this piece in that way. You broke something open I’ve been trying to express for a long time now.
This connects so beautifully with Meg Wheatleys notion of creating islands of sanity, beyond nervous system shredding, highly masked social obligations. The listed benefits are so beautifully tracked and shared. This is kind of an epic piece of writing
I love Meg Wheatley's work! Islands of sanity is the perfect framing
This is a gorgeous essay. Thank you for writing and sharing it. Inspires me to get back to my garden and community.
This was an absolutely lovely read. Thanks for sharing. Literally getting grounded and reconnected to the earth is a balm for the tech oligarchy times we live in. And perhaps the simple solution if enough people can rediscover their roots.
One of the bests Substack posts I’ve read in a while x
Such a lovely essay, I know I am echoing others' comments but just had to say so!
A beautiful read! I’m reminded of New Mexico author-farmer Stanley Crawford’s beautiful book, A Garlic Testament (https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Garlic_Testament.html?id=hFLSEAAAQBAJ)
To grow things is so much more than the sum of its parts. Thank you for sharing your joy with us!
Lovely essay, thanks
I really enjoyed this! It reminds me a lot of one of my favourite books from last year, the Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing. She talks about this bending of time you mentioned and how gardens can be a space for radical hope, though in her case it’s more of a focus on ornamental gardens than veggie patches. Thank you for sharing!
Yesssss gardening literally transformed me. It’s pure magic.
Took so many notes I broke a crayon
This is a treat to read! Thank you!
I am absolutely obsessed with this. Not only does it inspire me to bravely venture beyond my tiny raised bed garden but it also allows me room to be in relationship with the land as I do so. Plus, the way you described people sleepwalking away from their humanity! Every word felt like a, "Yes! That's exactly what's happening" in my body. Thank you.
One of the things I love about gardening is that the only way to learn how to do it is to ... do it. Practice trumps theory. Go for it!
Living in the U.S., I have a large backyard garden (thought I have enjoyed being part of a community garden) and I’m always here for the delight and all the things a garden teaches us and reminds us. Such a gift!
What a delicious piece. Thank you!