Burying the Dead

        It's been awhile since I have posted in this blog. There was a time when I thought I could do this on a daily basis but eventually the well dried up, it became stressful just to come up with a topic to write about. 

     I came to the realization that like everything else I do. I was in no competition with anyone not even with myself, I do things when I feel like it.

    I have been given an assignment by my school head to tend the school garden. I was having second thoughts when I was approached by her because I have a garden of my own which takes up a lot of time and effort and tending another one could be taxing. But I am an employee and this is better than doing paperworks, etc.

    I accepted the responsibility because I enjoy gardening and the physical exertions (or work out) involve in doing this involves all the muscles in the body. 

     I mean, instead of going to the gym paying hourly for the use of their equipments, or cycling to the provinces, or running for kilometers, this  for me is the best work out. I have nothing against the activites I mentioned above, it's just that gardening works best for me (I run and ride a bike too) each to his own. 

    Aside from the work out, there is also a return, not just the fulfillment of growing plants, there are tangible returns, harvest, food on the table when the time comes. 

    It's also a contemplative activity, if one thinks about it. It promotes hyperfocus especially if engrossed with the act of tilling the soil, or watering the plants, or sweeping the area, it's very relaxing.

      These are motivations enough. Anyway, when I get tired, I get tired. Just enjoying the enthusiasm, will it last? Depends but once things go sour for me, or it becomes competition oriented ( I abhor competitions, too f...king stressful) rather than garden oriented, I can always turn around and walk away.

    I have cleared the area and is now in the process of planting. One thing I noticed though is that the soil is mostly made up of ashes from the burnt paper, leaves, and trash, generally. It's high PH, alkaline or basic, easily get compacted when watered and has very little soil nutrients and putting chemical fertilizers will not help.

   To address this problem, I have started to bury banana trunks, dead branches and leaves in the raised garden beds so that when these organic materials get broken down nutrients will be released into the soil.

    This is the long term solution.