An Organic State of Mind
Organic gardening practices harmony with nature. Part of that harmony is the ability to sometimes let nature take her course. In summer, it's only natural to relax.
If fall is for reaping, winter for sleeping and spring for reawakening, then summer surely represents life at its peak. Summer's birth each year is marked by its solstice, the day that has the most hours of sunlight. This annual gift from nature affords us more time in the garden for socializing, or simply relaxing.
* In this age of multi-tasking and an unrelenting emphasis on productivity, rest and relaxation are rapidly becoming a lost art. It is currently thought to be a waste of time or laziness that leads to lost opportunities. Indeed, I believe the opposite to be true. The restorative properties of rest and relaxation are too numerous to name. The brain cannot function at its best without some breaks once in a while. Creativity is limited by too much pressure to perform. Humor is bound to flag when life lacks the rewards of doing the things that have no reason other than enjoyment.
*Gardening is an excellent example of an activity that leads to serenity. Getting "down to earth" frees our minds of worries while we concentrate on the task at hand. Sometimes, the best ideas and solutions come to us then. Being outside in the open air and sunshine refreshes us. The sight of our lovely plants and the birds, butterflies, and other wildlife lifts our spirits. So here's to summer, the height of the gardener's year, the season we've been waiting for.
