I love the wild, those magical places that have been untouched by the human hand. Where nature has been left to its own devices. For some the wild may seem to be a chaotic place. Where anything goes, where one is more exposed to the elements and things happen unexpectedly. It can even be a scary place for some, especially if you like to be in control or feel uneasy if things are not in a certain order.
I guess that is why there are some who wish to tame the wild, because they feel intimidated by it.
Nature in itself is wild, it thrives in the wild, but underneath that chaos, there is an order, a natural cycle, so that everything can thrive. Their are relationships at play that are instrumental to any ecosystems survival. One that helps maintain order and balance, then benefits the whole.
You can not have order without chaos and vice versa. They go hand in hand.
Our lives can be so chaotic at times. But, it is during those times, that we grow the most, as we are forced to deal with the different parts of ourselves, so that we can navigate our way through. It really is trial and error. Which is exactly what growing your own food is like. You have to take chances, to allow things to become a little chaotic, so that you can fully grasp what is the best way in which to nurture your plants.
I like my gardens, to be wild. Where the food I plant, grows alongside that which is already growing there.(unless it is terribly invasive). Before I do plant anything, I look to see what is growing there. What plants are thriving there already. What may perhaps look like a bunch of weeds ( medicinal plants), will in fact communicate with us, what type and condition the soil is in.
In my experience, if you want your garden to thrive, you have to let go of the need to control it. To strip everything away and just plant one thing. You need to work in partnership with the soil. Work alongside the plants that are already there and are beneficial to the health of the soil. We have a lot to learn from our natural habitant, about the many beneficial relationships between plants and insects, between the soil and the elements. How they all work together for the betterment of the ecosystem.
Nothing works in isolation in nature. Everything is connected and that is why it continues to thrive, everything has a role to play, to bring order into the beautiful natural chaos. Including us.
This is my response to the latest Creative Garden Challenge from the wonderful Hive Garden Community
