The holidays are on the horizon. Whether you get a long break or a short one, take some time out. Summer is the perfect time of year for tending – to our gardens, our family and friends, but most importantly to ourselves. It’s been a big year. All around me I hear people talking about how hard they’ve worked this year – with smaller budgets and less staff. We deserve a rest, so make sure to take one!
And there are so many enjoyable seasonal things that happen at this time of the year. The garden’s been in flower and now tiny fruits are starting to appear on plants and trees. By the time our holidays arrive, we’ll be harvesting potatoes, peas, strawberries, tomatoes, beans and courgettes. Beside the great joy of growing your own vegetables, is the pleasure of eating them. I can’t stress enough the importance of eating organic but even if your whole diet isn’t organic, maybe parts of it can be. Every little bit of organic we eat is good.
Which brings me to the seasonal cooking we start to think about at this time of year. What to serve with those new potatoes and beans? How to cook that chicken or ham or fish? And we can’t talk about the eating without considering a bit of seasonal cheer – testing the home brew, trying a recommended wine, or a new punch – all with a bit of extra time on our hands and in a relaxed fashion. Not to mention all those things we don’t get nearly enough time for in our busy year – reading sleeping, swimming, playing music, and enjoying the beach or the river or the pool or wherever we might happen to be.
And once we’re on holiday, it’s possible to let thoughts of the new year drift around. I know I want to investigate a community orchard I have recently heard about in Raumati South. I love hearing about these kinds of initiatives. They bring people together in a positive and meaningful way, and nothing oils the community wheels like a project around growing food.
So whatever you end up doing over your summer break, try a bit of seasonal thinking and have a safe and relaxing holiday.
