Creating the new world now

Crisis or not, the good comes with the bad.

There are the harmful, deadly threats, Covid-19, coronavirus, cancer to name some. Corruption, shameless greed, hunger, poverty, conflict, war and threats of foreign military invasion coexist with wasteful extravagance, undeserved entitlements, and unequal, unfair, unjust privileges.

Will the new normal allow us to create our world anew?

One can wait for the virus to be effectively contained, for the corrupt and other evil to be wiped off the face of the earth. However, rather than allow the bad- fear, anger, danger, despair- to paralyze and steal the beauty each day brings, gratefully, one can already choose immediately, now, this moment to recognize the beauty, blessings and grace of our wonderful world before, with, for us.

Simple joys await us right where we are.

There are the blessings of life, of love, of partners, children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, all others sent our way.

Nature’s daily abundance is available for all to enjoy and relish- fragrance, colors and more. There’s the delight brought by birds briefly stopping by one’s window to chirp their melodic hello. Even the fleeting cool breeze is a welcome respite during humid days!

We smile when we see flowers finally give way to fruits slowly but surely growing up our trees in our own gardens! We are inspired receiving friends’ happy messages and posts about how their gardens are teeming with self-grown plants and vegetables!!!

Rather than nurture our fears through the days, why not allow nature to nurture us instead? We have to do our share as well, however. It is a two-way partnership. We take care of nature. In turn, nature will take care of us.

Seafarers’ wives, Junamil and Lesly, happily and proudly shared their healthy home gardens’ array of veggies- lettuce, pechay, eggplants, kangkong and more.

One does not need to have a big plot to grow plants, flowers and vegetables. As long as soil is properly prepared with compost (easy to produce by layering well chopped wet kitchen wastes with soil), one can grow vegetables anywhere clean -even in sacks, in used mineral water and other safe containers! You can have hanging mini-gardens as well.

Posting abundant greens in a 7x2m area in a friend’s home, Cebu Farmers Market organizer, Teresa Ruelas, shared this wonderful, encouraging message for those who want to start creating their world anew:

“A forest garden, also termed food forest or edible forest garden, is a form of sustainable agriculture that mimics natural woodland ecosystems. All the plant species in a forest garden are of direct or indirect benefit to humans. The main yields are edible food crops, along with lesser produce such as plants used for fiber, timber or medicine.”

Teresa further shared May Sarton’s words: “everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.” Gardening is a stress reliever, too.

Ever-active community organizer and friend Anita Ebasitas shared that about 60 women in a relocated community in Danglag, Consolacion were ready to start their home gardens. Not long after, these women and their households will soon enjoy their self-grown veggies.

Kathy Sherman’s lyrics come to mind:

“Touch the earth with gentleness, touch the earth with love. Touch her with a future, by the way you live today. God has given us the power to create the world anew, if we touch the earth, together, me and you.”

“The time is here, the time is now. We can change things.”

“Give the earth your dream of harmony, she is waiting, waiting for love, waiting for you, waiting for me.”