On our small farm journey, we are striving to grow much of our food. This is harder than you might think given the wet clay soils we are stuck with. But despite the challenges, it is joyful, meaningful and educational.
And there’s another benefit: the necessary slowing down required to process and preserve this homegrown food, because that slowing down leads to peace.
On a sunny July afternoon, I sat outside at the picnic table shelling these peas pondering the peace of the process. It didn’t seem like a chore. It seemed like a blessing to be able to sit quietly for an hour with my dog at my feet shelling peas for the freezer while listening to the birds.
Sometimes when I’m doing those kinds of tasks, I think I’d enjoy it more with company, with someone to talk to. But other times, like today, I felt grateful for the solitude and time to simply sit and think and be. My brain was quiet. My heart was full. I was at peace.
All because I had a basket full of peas.
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