It鈥檚 been an eventful and somewhat challenging year. The growing season, in its length and extreme heat, brought both bounty and fatigue. Then, in late summer, came sadness and alarm at a tone of acrimony and division building in the country.
In search of solace, off to the garden I would flee 鈥� to putter, observe, and bask in blessed neutrality.
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So many plants. All so different yet each contributing its own beauty and value to the shared environment. I saw soft waves of trailing petunias flowering merrily snuggled up against a听prickly dwarf conifer in a container鈥檚 confines. Sunflowers and dahlias made a congenial community as they accepted the twining attentions of a few annual morning glory vines that contributed their own lively blossoms to the mix.
Even visitors like sunny calendulas and sweet alyssum, having arrived on their own steam, add value to the garden鈥檚 society of plants in the form of fragrance, colour, and food for beneficial insects.
Though inhabitants of a garden constitute a fairly egalitarian mix, there are bound to be some specimens that are more highly regarded, or more needy of attention and resources, than others. Plants are a fabulously diverse lot. As with other life forms, including us, they have not been created cookie-cutter fashion. Yet, for the most part, they get along and听accommodate each other. Contention does not go hand in听hand with diversity
This garden of mine even hosts transients that could be regarded as potential menace. I鈥檝e learned to live in a degree of听harmony, for example, with raccoons 鈥� those dreaded masked devils 鈥� that routinely prowl the garden at night. We鈥檝e come to an understanding over the plum tree issue.
It鈥檚 a gift to garden, and live, in a tone of acceptance and peace. Some of us will have observed in recent months how attitudes of division, exclusion, and preying on others鈥� fears, when expressed by those in authority or prominence, beget those same malevolent outlooks and give tacit permission for听repeating and extending their practice. It鈥檚 a poisonous legacy.
The welcoming, inclusive collegiality and beneficent tranquility of a garden suggests an equal potential for creating a听legacy of generosity and inclusion, kindness and peace.
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Reprieve from feasting. So much rich food finds its way onto our plates during the holiday season. Consider taking a听break by turning to a few simple, restorative edibles. Give your digestive systems 鈥� and livers 鈥� a bit of a cleansing break.
When it comes to such remedial foods I think of raw carrots and beets. Over the years I鈥檝e developed a liking for two simple salads using these root vegetables that are available almost year round in the garden.
I found the carrot salad in an old juicing book that described it听as an essential element in a听liver-cleansing diet. I find it simply delicious and refreshing, and have it often for lunch. The book recommends eating it every day for seven days for optimum effectiveness.
The 鈥渟alad鈥� is easy. Whisk 1听Tbsp each fresh lemon juice and olive oil in a mixing bowl, add 1 cup finely shredded carrot and toss. Sometimes I鈥檒l soak a few currants or raisins in the dressing before adding the carrot. It鈥檚 surprisingly tasty, especially with sweet, juicy garden carrots.
The beet recipe is an adaptation of one I found in a book about European organically produced foods. Combine grated raw beet, chopped apple and minced onion and toss in a blend听of oil, vinegar, honey, cumin, and听toasted, chopped hazelnuts.
Though amounts can vary according to taste, I use one small onion, one apple, and about three medium sized beets, and in听the dressing around 3 Tbsp each apple cider vinegar and sunflower oil, 1 Tbsp honey and 1 tsp ground cumin. The salad develops its richest flavours when made a little ahead of serving.
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Next week. To have some time off for family during the holiday, I鈥檒l not be writing columns for听next week. I鈥檒l be back on听Dec. 30.
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May your Christmas be filled with family, friends, fun, and hopefully some moments of quiet and reflection. I wish for everyone the blessings conveyed in this Celtic Benediction:
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Deep peace of the Running Wave to you,
Deep peace of the Flowing Air to you,
Deep peace of the Quiet Earth to you,
Deep peace of the Shining Stars to you,
Deep Peace of the Giver of peace to you.
