
What a difference a year makes.
This time last September we were in full swing producing rows and rows of asian greens, and this September, it’s all about the egg cartons…
Last September it was all about weeding the Pak choy, seeding radishes and digging in the winter green manures.
We were revving up to produce as much of our on-farm catering needs as humanely possible, given the constraints of that farm’s climate + soils.
This September, things are just a touch more simple.
When we first moved to the farm and started things up there, we were determined to do it all.
To build it all. To grow it all. To be it all.
Climate change and peak oil? No worries mate. We’re gonna to be totes sorted. If we can only just work hard enough, we can make everything happen. Everything – all on the one farm.
Fortunately, we pretty quickly realised that doing it all was a ridiculous approach, and that inter-connectedness was key. So we adapted. And then we adapted some more.
That farm was a rather incredible learning experience, that many people (including us) got a huge amount of goodness and knowledge and experience from.
But this Spring, it’s all about the egg cartons – spinach in one, eggplants and capsicums in another.
We’re still planting every week, just on a different scale.
Still connected to our food system, though in a slightly different way now.
And our backyard ecosystem rising.
I suppose it takes a while to let things go. You thought you were one thing (farmer, remote homesteader), and then you find yourself being another (backyard grower, purchaser of eggs).
But what I’ve decided this winter is that, again, farming is like art.
By the time I exited the Art World (about the same time we moved to the farm), I had realised that it didn’t really matter who made the art. What mattered was that good art got made. Art that questioned us, and made us think.
It was far less important whether I myself played the role of artist, or curator, or project co-ordinator, or advocate. It didn’t really matter, when all was said and done. It was all part of making art. What mattered was that good art got made.
And the same goes for a healthy food system – of course.
There’s many roles to play.
And this Spring, for us, it’s creating gardens for others, and starting our own seedlings on a windowsill.
My steel capped workboots are still by the front door, and they still get a workout. Just at other people’s farms.
Happy Spring planting, all.
That’s a great idea using the egg cartons for starting the seedlings. I’ll definitely do that next spring.
Leslie
Interconnectedness is definitely one of the keys to it all especially as so many/most people live in urban areas… Do you think you will get backyard chooks for eggs in the future?
I loved this post! Until 3 years ago I lived in England, I had a pretty big and hugely productive allotment and loved being almost self-sufficient in fruit and veg for the summer. Then I moved to Australia and currently live in a flat with a shady balcony. It was hard for me to go from growing so much to growing nothing, but it’s forced me to become connected to my food system in a different way, and I’m still learning so much.
I love your analogy, I thought it was perfect : )
this is perhaps the most interesting of all your posts for me and yes I read some of your very first posts… — having been on a similar journey – in art, on the farm, in the garden, in permaculture… just a decade or two earlier and pre-internits… the one thing that never changes is how much things can change! (and how quickly) — and you know what I learned? that’s ok. it’s all ok. in the end its about the real connections we make – family, friends, fellow travellers… and finding a place of inner peace. go (egg cartony)… Read more »
The trick to permaculture for me is doing as little as possible, which was why bonfil and fukuoka were such great reads, I’m really enjoying reading about fossil fuel free farming as an alternative method for the future http://www.livingenergyfarm.org/ but we don’t need to join a commune to build a community amongst likewise folk, i wonder if the trap really is trying to make money off your property, whether its permaculture, or any other farm like business…can we not just enjoy the fruits of our own labour? hope your enjoy the transition back to the suburbs, I also enjoy all… Read more »
Lovely to read, Kirsten. It is damned hard to leave gardened land and owner-built homes. Your farm conversion was such a huge and public and loved project, I think maybe i wasn’t alone in feeling a bit worried for you guys.
It’s good to know you’re ok.
You’ve done a huge service to getting permaculture out there. Retrofitting the burbs is where it’s at, so it can only be positive that you and Nick are on it.
All the best.
i deeply admire your courage in leaving what you had built – letting go is one of the biggest challenges for me personally, and your example is a true inspiration for me! thank you
We’re excited about all of this. I figure most Australians live in urban environments and the idea of having the Milkwooders experimenting and sharing at a semi-urban domestic scale that we can all apply and relate to is going to be such an amazing resource. With the following you’ve got the results could be really interesting. If 1 in 100 followers try 1 idea a month and share it with just one person, in no time at all that’s changing the country a bit at a time for the better. Very exciting. Must run, a certain blog has inspired us… Read more »
Gorgeous pictures of the seedlings!! This season I planted my seedlings in egg cartons too, but found the cartons drew alot of moisture out of the soil, so they were always dry. Did you find this at all??