How many of the patterns in your life are strongly circular and how many have you have been able to close.
Here is a simple one. Our clothing is worn for as long as possible then it is cut up for rags then once those are worn through this thin worn out fabric goes in the compost. A closed cycle.
Here is a good one. We grow the vegetables. Let our best plant go to seed. Dry and harvest the seeds. Plant again next summer. A closed food cycle.
The best I can do one. The feed bags are used as trash bags before they leave the property.
There is a harmonious collective sigh that we feel when we see a cycle close in like a new fern frond. We are protected within these cycles. These glorious curves. These ancient circles.
This for me is one of the pillars of The Sustainable Movement.
- Harmony in your personal ecosystem will enable harmony in the ecosystems you brush through.
And make sure there is water, wildness and trees for our birds.
Harmony in our wild ecosystems is paramount to the planet. Not for humans, for the planet. And birdsong is our reward. They know their business if we would just get out of their way.
The Farmyard
This also applies to the animals we cage. If they are feeling a gentle touch and are moving and eating at their own speed we can achieve some harmony.
Above is how this steer sleeps. He literally stretches out like a dog. And he is a biggun. He breaks things when he does that. He is going to take out the side of the barn. He literally lays down against a structure then braces himself against the building or tree or fence or gate to lay himself right back out.
The Fields
The wheat fields are starting to turn pale.
Good morning.
I started at 5am this morning. My Dad was an early riser too. Our Mum was sick for years so it was always Dad and me early in the morning – me in my school uniform and stockings – he in his work clothes and socks – working fast in the kitchen to prepare the family for the day; before we woke the others up for school and took Mum her first cup of tea.
Our kitchen and 70’s open plan living area was on stilts, two stories up, at high tide and right up in the trees. Attached by a circular staircase to the old house. No matter the weather Dad would open the big windows wide so we could listen to the morning birds as they sung to the sea breeze, while we worked.
He was one of the first to tell me that we are guardians of all this. He was talking of the birds and the sea, particularly the sea.
The Pond
The back end of the pond is not quite as pretty.
Travels
I cannot wait to get back to the sea.
Did I tell you I have a cottage booked close to sea in New Zealand. Close enough to walk to the beach in a New Zealand winter every day. And you will be coming with me AND we will have a great internet signal.
Do No Harm Travel is such a tough one. But I am not walking to New Zealand to see my children!
So what cycle should I focus on today. Hmm.
How about the cycle of me writing and you popping into the Lounge of Comments. And while you are there tell me how often you visit TKG. This will be useful info for my We Have Moved Announcements.
Cecilia
PS – Tomorrow is training day for me. Duane is going to teach me how to drive our new website. I had a quick look at the blog page capabilities last night and OH LORDY! This is going to be fun!!
Remember that THIS blog site will still exist as our archives. So have no fear. All my posts and all your comments over the years will remain. We can look them up anytime.
The Kitchen's Garden 
34 responses to ““Cycles: The Key to Environmental Harmony.””
The cycles are all around us from the moon above to the seasonal changes in the landscape and flora and fauna.
Thank you for the bird song!
Yes! If we are in tune with the natural cycles all the rest falls into place. Thank you Dorothy!
That steer looks quite funny (and as you said, sleeping doglike). I’ve never seen a cow or steer do that before.
He has done that since he was little – quite terrifying – but now he is huge and literally bending stuff!!
Visit you everyday Cecilia. Your blog site is a delight and following you in your day to day farm work or travels is great. Love that very chilled out steer!
He is so relaxed. But it terrifies me every time I see him do that! I call out and up comes his head!
The concept of cycles is such an equitable one- that thinking and using a thing until it simply cannot be used anymore.
The small bobbies seem to be looking at the big dead cow and contemplating if they should try out the same pose! I really hope the big guy doesn’t bring the barn down! I can hardly wait to be in the cottage by the winter sea with you 🙂
It is going to be marvelous/ and I will be using sound – our new website will allow us a tiered experience!
I also visit every day. If for any reason you or l don’t make it l am quite bereft. It is definitely one of the high lights of my day. Your pictures and words always delight me. Today alone beautiful bird song and a funny sleeping steer and much much more. THANK YOU💖
Oh you are very welcome Andrea. The new site will enable me to show you so much more with sounds and video. It will load faster too so I am looking forward to playing around with it. But in the end it will be the same content – with the added dimension of the sustainable workshops!
I visit nearly every day and always enjoy the pictures and scenery you publish….x
Thank you Suzanne – lovely to hear from you!
I try to visit every day, but life being what it is, I often find I’ve missed one, two, even three days somehow. But then I get to sit a spell and catch up. It’s usually a welcome respite.
That is really kind! I love that you save the posts up to read all together like that! Take care now!
Wonderful words and wonderful photos- have fun in New Zealand!
Not yet kathe, we have another twelve sleeps until blast off!
You start most of my days and have for quite a long time. It was my link with being in the country during all the years I was stuck in the big city and now that I’m in a nice rural town, it still is my link with the areas that are farmland and growing things and open skies and critters. The place I’m at now is such a huge improvement from the city, quieter, cleaner, friendlier, more sensible. I’m still hoping to be a place of my own, but will stay in the rural areas, no more cities for me, they’re horrid.
I am so glad you are more settled – that street at the last place sounded dreadful. And wonderful to be out in a rural setting now. Much better!
Reading your posts always makes me feel very peaceful. You have a real way with words.
Thank you! Being in a position to bring some peace into a busy world is such a pleasure.
I use the chook feed sacks to take drink containers to be recycled. Then the bags themselves are recycled, at the same place. Four bags of them, the other day, and $20 back! It’s good to have added incentive… And I rarely throw garments away. They are either donated or mended till they are more patch than original, or I turn them into quilts. And I’d say 90% of my clothes are bought from thrift shops. I draw the line at underwear, though…
What ! No 2nd hand silk knickers? (sorry had to say it!) I love that you get paid for your rubbish over there it develops trust!
For silk, I’d change my mind…
i hope i am still going to recieve your email for this blog. dont lose me in cyber space. lol
I have you on my list! You are safe! Thank you for checking up!
I pop in to TKG most days. Winter is my favourite time of year to beach house and beach walk. I love the image of the wide open windows treetops kitchen overlooking the beach.
I have always seen all of life as a circle and I love your examples to it in your world. I read your blog every day, just an fyi, but don’t always have a chance to comment based on the ebbs and flows of life. have a wonderful, wonderful time in nz, and thanks in advance for taking us all with you –
Pack your bag! 12 days to go! I think. Maths is not my best!!
)))
Every day. Every day I open with TKG. Thank you for being here…excited to get to NZ again (they have the best big sky).
Virginia – you have made my day. I am excited to get to NZ too! Especially because we will have the beach!