Sharing Earth and the sowing of seeds for long-term dreams

While last year's life lays on the ground this year's is pushing through

We decided Shared Earth was going to be the name for our volunteer days as we very much see ourselves as stewards of the land. Meaning we're here to look after it, listen to its needs and hopes for the future, and to share it with all the more-than-humans that call it home, too.

We consider ourselves part of the natural world that surrounds us and not separate from it. Yes, we take ourselves off to the comfort and warmth of our four walls at the end of the day but with each year we endeavour to spend more and more time on the land, listening, dreaming, collaborating.

Collaboration is very important to us as a family and also with the land and those who come to share time with us on it. Every Shared Earth we have a list of tasks that we would like to achieve. These tasks obviously come from our point of view. However we have regulars who come and share time with us most months. They see how we work, where we need support and also what our long-term vision is. They see the things we don't see because we're so focused on what's right in front of us. They're in a better position to step back and see where they could help by offering to embark on tasks that we wouldn't have got round to for weeks or months or ever...! And we're very happy for that to happen because that's exactly what Shared Earth is about.

We love that our volunteers feel comfortable enough to see our to-do list for the weekend and say that actually they would rather do something else instead. This happened this month and we are so glad it did. There's an area that was starting to get swallowed up in brambles and that was in need of some TLC. That TLC came and by the end of the day the area was looking much tidier and we are now able to see what else could be done to nurture that little spot even more.

One of the main jobs on our list that we achieved this month was the planting of small copper beech whips in a curved line and so beginning the life of a hedge that will divide our bell tent and its garden and the new camping spot we're working on for this year. It doesn't look like much now but, like any seeds you sow, given time it will grow and, if looked after, thrive.

In the photo below you can see the tree marking the beginning of our hedge which we planted a few years ago and wasn't much bigger than the whips we put in this month. Like everything we're doing here, we're sowing the seeds for our long-term dreams.

Having completed the copper beech hedge, Steve and I admire our hard work from last month.

With another Shared Earth behind us and Spring fast approaching, we look forward to what next month brings...

Project Bug Hotel

Watch this space!