Beliefs and stuff

[OverWyreGrower]

Not any particular religion, although have close friends with all sorts of beliefs.

I think that living a good life, trying to be nice to those around you, and the world you live in is the best way to be.

Have been called "hippyish" recently for recycling, growing our own and making my own food etc, and asked if we're going to live on a commune ()

I find being outdoors (gardening, walking etc) makes me feel happy and more connected with things. The pleasure of seeing my tulip and allium bulbs coming up through the mulch this weekend brought no end of happiness

Hhmmm, not particularly deep or spiritual, but I guess that's just me!

[johnty greentoes]

I'm loving this thread as it is an opportunity to explore the deeper side of the veggie growing thing in a way that shows how common a thread there is between all the contributors whatever their religious (or not) persuasions.

I've tried to do this before on religious sites and got hacked off with people chucking doctrinal statements at me (I confess I used to do this myself but no more).

It seems there is a lot to be investigated here. I guess that people have an enormous range of reasons for doing gardening. Maybe we could take a poll. What is your primary motivation for gardening? Possible answers could be...

• to produce healthy food
• to feel closer to nature
• to relieve stress
• as a working meditation
• for the fun of it
• for the physical exercise

What could other "categories" be?

[Birdie Wife]

For me, one of the main factors is the fact that the nearest shop where I could buy 'fresh' veg is about 30 miles away, and even then there is no greengrocer so I'm stuck with the supermarkets. There is decent local produce but it's hard to find. So I grow my own! And when I tasted lovely crunchy cucumbers and tomatoes in countries where they are grown much more widely, I realised what I was missing out on.

[SueA]

I'm not 'new age' , 'hippyish' , 'spiritual' or 'religious' & at times just feel totally lost as a tiny dot in a big world. I didn't get into gardening & growing my own for any particular reason other than the fascination of seeing something develop from a little seed into a beautiful plant. It gives me great satisfaction looking at something I have grown & thinking that in some small way I've contributed to the planet.(Whoops - sound a bit spiritual there!)

[Hazel at the Hill]

I would add a sense of achievement, and meeting people.

[smallblueplanet]

Did you say you were a teacher JT?

I feel I should raise my hand before I answer!

[johnty greentoes]

Did you say you where a teacher JT?

I feel I should raise my hand before I answer!

Do I give the vibe off that strongly?

Sorry - it's sort of in the genes - can't help it. Hope it isn't too off-putting!

[punydan]

Loving this thread.

I am going to continue the "What is your primary motivation for gardening?" list and add to it as people suggest others - as Birdie Wife has just done. Possible answers could be...

• to produce healthy food
• to feel closer to nature
• to relieve stress
• as a working meditation
• for the fun of it
• for the physical exercise
• to have acces to lcally produced quality food

What could other "categories" be?

I too am loving this thread, I only joined this forum thingy too get free advice and ive got so much more. Spiritually uplifted! Another category "I just love dirt."

[nick the grief]

Do I give the vibe off that strongly?

Sorry - it's sort of in the genes - can't help it. Hope it isn't too off-putting!

It's the rustle of the tweed jacket & the squeak of the elbow patches that does it JT

[Hazel at the Hill]

Still loving this thread.

I am going to continue the "What is your primary motivation for gardening?" list and add to it as people suggest others - as punydan has just done. Possible answers could be...

• to produce healthy food
• to feel closer to nature
• to relieve stress
• as a working meditation
• for the fun of it
• for the physical exercise
• to have acces to locally produced quality food
• a sense of achievement
• meeting people
• just love dirt

What could other "categories" be?

Can I change my 'meeting people' to 'sense of community?'

[nick the grief]

Refuge from Mrs G .... second thoughts make that peace & quiet

[Alice]

To create the environment I live in.

[Mrs Dobby]

My Primary motives for GYOing have little to do with my belief system, but my belief system does allow me to get a lot from the time spent upon our plot!

As a child I realised that the faith I had been brought up with by my parents just didnt feel right, and though I did a lot of soul searching I just couldnt reconcile how I felt and thought with that belief structure. This left me depressed and upset for a very long time, so I ended up ignoring the spiritual side of life and concentrating on other aspects for a long time.

It wasnt until my late 20's that I fetl a need to find my own path, I started through the practice of Yoga and meditation, then found myself looking at many different faiths, all of which had aspects that I appreciated, but none of which actually felt 100% right for me. In fact it wasnt until meeting Mr D 7 years ago, that I found my way into studying paganism, which is what works for me at this point in my life. I have no problem with anyone's personal religiion, as long as it works for them and they get something from it, I do have some personal problems with what has been done by so many in the name of their faith or religion, and with some of those who are involved with organised religions that perhaps behave in ways that I believe are not in accord with my own conscience, but by and by I live in peaceand let others live in peace if they allow me the same courtesy.

As to why we gyo? How long have you got!!!!!!!

Taste, exercise, de-stressing (almost meditative) activity, closeness to nature and the cycles, better awareness of the seasons and weather, social interaction with a likeminded community, sense of acchievement, reduction in carbon footprint, reduced costs for food, organic food that I know the hitory of, fun, something we can do together, etc, etc, etc!

[Snadger]

Refuge from Mrs G .... second thoughts make that peace & quiet

Lucky you!! I 've got a family of fourteen on one side and a flaming cockerel crowing all day on the other side....peace and quite..whats that!!

I still love it though!

[Marylou]

For the sheer sensory wonder of it all - stroke the furry inside of a broad-bean pod, experience the smell of fresh-picked tomatoes, listen to the sounds of the birds as you are working in the fresh air, look with satisfaction on beds of thriving vegetables - and TASTE THEM!