Choosing A Life of Growing

This is not my usual blog post about flower design. It is deeper and personal. But I feel its important to share. Over the past few weeks, months and years we have seen so much violence and horror. When I meditate on the Newtown CT shooting, as well as other mass shootings, and on soldiers going to war overseas and returning as completely different people then the ones who left us, I see a hurting world. This might leave you feeling hopeless.

But don’t ever feel hopeless…when there are thousands of people devoted to making LIFE. GROWING: Plants, food, flowers, seed production, bulb production. I draw energy from a life immersed in this culture of growing, connection with the earth and people devoted to bringing little seeds to rich lives as plants. When you grow a garden it is a wonderful and giving exchange. The garden and farm act as a good lesson on how to treat each other: be nurturing, patient, feed the soil, give light…and in return you will receive what nurtures and feeds you.

So how can one effect the world: make choices a that are closer to the earth, family, and compassion. Feed your spirit in nonmaterialistic ways.

Though not a religious person I find Buddhism and the Tao filled with good teachings. I think you can turn to almost any page of Tao Te Ching to find answers to questions or a little bit of faith.  So I will leave you with this:

EIGHT

The highest good is like water.

Water gives life to the ten thousand and dose not strive.

It flows in places men reject and so it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, be close to the land

In meditation, go deep in the heart.

In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.

In speech, be true.

In ruling, be just.

I business, be competent.

In action, watch the timing.

No Fight: No blame

-Lao Tsu Tao Te Ching–

Thank you to all:  the members of ASCFG,  NOFA VT, Farmers in  Vermont, Seed companies and seed growers around the world,  Plug Growers, Blub producers Nationally and internationally, The sales reps I interact with, and you for reading this post