Every year in early February, I get my garden journal out and begin to plan. My garden is more than twice the size of my little 400-foot cabin, so planning is something I take seriously! I have layouts for my garden from each year that I review. To get started, I draw up a new planting plan with seedling counts and begin to draft my new layout, ensuring that crops are rotated. I also have a seed starting schedule that reflects what I generally grow.
I usually start in mid-February with a range of varieties of peppers, some Genovese Basil, and sometimes some onions. By May, my little cabin is teeming with seedlings of all kinds. I grow so many that I often donate a selection to many of the community gardens in the area, as well as fill my own garden.
However, this year, I only made the early motions to get started. I got my planting schedule up, but a few weeks went by, and the peppers weren’t planted. I made the decision not to proceed just yesterday. It felt funny not to get started.
The reason why I changed my plans is important, and I realized that, even though I may seem like I’m not being very “prepared,” there is a purpose to this decision. I have written about the challenges of aging alone on a homestead in an earlier article. I highly recommend you read the comments at the end of this article, as they are filled with OP community wisdom.
My decision is partly based on limitations that come from aging but also based on what I think is one of my most important preps: self-knowledge and insight. I had a rough year last year, and even though things are looking up for me, I realized that I’m simply exhausted. I need to get some rest and prioritize my health.
Yes, I could probably squeeze the energy out of me to proceed with planting the seedlings. What I’m talking about here is how I make crucial decisions on the homestead here: I put my overall health first. Skills that I have already consolidated are not the top priority. We are in the midst of a slow-burning SHTF, and I had a rough year last year on top of that. I realized that I’m sleepwalking along: burnt out and not ready for a full-out SHTF, should one arrive. I consider that dangerous.
I hope that by sharing some thoughts on my own philosophy of preparedness, it might inspire others to reflect on their own. This is not to say one is better than the other. I believe that we can all learn from each other.
Prepper, Know Thyself
I have always been intuitive. I value getting information from my “gut instincts,” and it has gotten me out of trouble more than once. Along with that, I value quiet time, meditation, and knowing where I’m at. In my opinion, that is something that this society doesn’t want you to be doing. Everything is moving at breakneck speed; we’re all sold distractions for our spare time (never mind the endless scrolling!).
As someone who prefers natural medicine, I put prevention ahead of everything else. From the moment I wake up each morning until I put my head back on that pillow, I am in touch with how I’m feeling and what I need. That might be a plant medicine, an herbal tea, some extra rest, reaching out to a friend, or a food that my body needs. It might be a walk outside, connecting with my favorite tree, or some tough love….get that dump run organized, gosh darn it!
From a preventative medicine standpoint, these small moments all add up. It is self-care. During the worst of the stress I faced last year, I decided to keep really busy and tough my way on through it. As a result, a year has gone by, and I can see that I feel the same as I did last spring. I am seeing signs in my health that I feel are warnings: low energy, catching every last thing that comes along (I am normally NEVER sick!!!). When I put it all together with my self-knowledge, I realized that I needed to cut back my commitments in order to heal. So, even though growing my seedlings every spring brings me a great deal of joy, I am taking a rest from that.
Preparedness vs. Rigidity
There is a part of me (yes, the Irish part!) that is extremely stubborn. The O’Malley women in my line are known for this. This is how we get things done. However, as I have faced the aging process, I have seen how my rigid beliefs about what I SHOULD be able to do (vs. what I can ACTUALLY do) have literally caused me pain. I am seeing that to thrive in my immediate and distant future, I need to let go of my rigid thinking about what it means to be prepared.
Examples of this are, “I have to do this every spring. I can’t let it go.” “What will people think? I always grow my own!” “How can I call myself prepared if I buy my plants from the store?” I don’t want my rigid perspective on my own self-sufficiency badge of honor to get in the way of my health. I am flexing up my schedule to prioritize health and well-being.
What Do I Need Right Now?
When I checked the pepper planting schedule already taped to the wall and realized I was almost a month late, I knew something was up. I reflected on my priorities and decided I could let it go this year. It’s not the apocalypse. I can get the plants I need from friends and local plant sellers.
Looking even more deeply, I saw that the garden had suffered a fair bit since my back injury a few years ago. Is it time to assess what I’m growing and how? I had been struggling with overly sandy soil and considering moving to hugelkulture or simple raised beds. Should a full-out SHTF arrive, I can see that the overall state of my garden beds is a higher priority than seedlings for one year. It is time to do something about this.
Looking around this little cabin, I also realized that I needed simplicity. I have been getting rid of stuff and clearing out the space in a wonderful way. I wasn’t ready to fill it with seedlings. Looking inward, I saw that continuing the big purge was going to bring larger benefits for the time invested. I felt that the clutter had been going on too long.
So, there wasn’t one single reason why I’m NOT starting seedlings this year. And, really, this is just the tip of the iceberg of a large movement I’m feeling in my life around how I spend my time. My body has just been telling me to slow down, reflect, and choose carefully how I spend my time.
Do I anticipate growing my seedlings in the future? Yes, but perhaps in a simpler way. I’m seeing that I need to pay attention to my foundation: my health, my rest, my energy levels, and even my garden beds. Once that is more solid, I can choose from a better position.
Prepared in What Way?
In order to pay attention to my health, I have reduced some homestead activities that I normally enjoy. How do you balance your desire to be prepared with time and your health? What kind of choices have you made, for better or worse? Please tell us in the comments section.
About Rowan
Rowan O’Malley is a fourth-generation Irish American who loves all things green: plants (especially shamrocks), trees, herbs, and weeds! She challenges herself daily to live her best life and to be as fit, healthy, and prepared as possible.
11 Responses
I feel ya Rowan. We have been busier than normal with helping our grown children exit the military to temporarily move home &/or to their new jobs, traveling out of the country to see the soon to be deployed daughter & making memories with our other kids & grandkids that I’m feeling a little unorganized with my 3 year old garden. BTW, you all helped motivate & encourage me to start a garden at 56!
In WI, I can’t get too far ahead of my skies even with a greenhouse (someone will need to water these seedlings while I’m gone). Then I realized, it’s ok, I’ll get some plants this year to supplement, it’s simply not the end of the world not doing all seeds this season, big deal Jennifo. But the competitive person in me says I’m a loser. I’ve got internal chatter that says it must be precise & perfect. But it doesn’t.
I do strongly believe that once the Spring sun starts to shine more consistently, it will bring me the energy I will need to be more motivated or energetic. Winter here is LONG. I’m hoping you get the energy & vitality you need once warmer weather arrives & you get out to get some vitamin D, you will reenergize yourself!
I do know stress kills. And kills your immunity. Take a ‘season’ to focus on yourself & your health! It will all be ok. It may be your favorite year yet. 😉
I needed to hear this myself today too! 58, with Rheumatoid, managing the household and care for my 90 yr old mom, managing my own household with my DH (Dear Husband) who is desperately ill, and he and I both work full time. On top of that, he is researching for an archaeology paper, has speaking engagements, and is a pastor. It is A LOT! Some days I can barely make myself walk to the chicken coop to gather those precious eggs…
When I get home from work, some days I have energy and can go pull tattered tarps off the old chicken tractors (Monday!) and other days I struggle to throw a couple eggs in the mixer with some sugar and cream to make custards for work lunch (Tuesday, but I got it done!) Tonight I have plans to go move one of the empty chicken tractors out of the way of the new greenhouse that is getting delivered on Friday, but that ambition might just disappear by the time I get home. (9X20 Hoop style greenhouse on Amazon for ~$170.00, winner winner!)
I have been learning how to forgive myself for not being all that I want to be, or accomplishing all I hoped to accomplish. It is HARD to yield, but wellbeing outweighs all else. It is an ongoing learning process. I am slowly working on getting rid of the clutter also. I figure that if I want room for real preps, I have to get rid of stuff I haven’t looked at in years. Great in theory, hard in practice!
I applaud your recognition of your ability, your desire to live in a more simple way, and your strength to declutter! Good on you Rowan! Your honesty and vulnerability is inspiring, and your recognition of the need to change up your garden makes me think about all I need to do to fix mine.
Just an additional tip, you might be able to score used coffee grounds for the new hügelkultur beds if you take some 5 gallon buckets to your local coffee shop. If you are diligent about picking them up, they are usually pretty good about filling them for you. You can also often score loads of free woodchips if you talk to the local tree trimming guy who is clearing the power lines! Chips are great for building up soggy places, covering paths, or mulching plants.
Wishing us both luck this spring!
Thank you. This is what I needed to hear. I’m dealing with 70 year old husband whose an alcoholic with stage 4 cirrhosis. His main concern is drinking. I’m working full time , sometimes overtime, and don’t have energy like I used to. Gardening has become another “chore” for me. And that makes me sad.
Excellent to hear you are taking care of YOU. If you need to buy plants this year, then that’s what you should be doing. I hope to hear that next year at this time you are back in business, and growing seedlings to put in your new raised beds!
Years ago I got rid of my sewing machine because A. I wasn’t using it. B New clothes were cheap C Used clothes were even cheaper D Sewing was expensive. Yes, I know how to sew and I have the skills, but I don’t need to use them today. I have better uses for my time.
I agree with the value of prevention and that natural healing can play a part. But my understanding is that, contrary to common belief, natural healing can also effectively address many health emergencies. Fortunately, I haven’t had to test this myself.
I’m doing the same. I bought a couple heirloom tomatoes plants the other day. I bought another quictent, from the neighbor really cheap, but don’t have energy to put up. I think I’m in some type of depression as i just turned 55 and my family doesn’t help me, and I don’t have the energy to fight them any more. I’m actually trying to get rid of alot of stuff at our local resale shop. I’m headed to Alabama in May to visit my son n his wife, so maybe that’ll pep me up a bit.
TexasAntigone:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
When you visit your son, is there any reason you can’t stay? It would be good if you could find community of women in a similar situation to help support you in your endeavors, and free you from the bondage you seem to be living in. Grace and Peace to you…
I usually have a number of plants growing every year but having gotten ill for weeks and also having to take on additional care duties, I was unable to water them, so most died. One or two actually survived and so they now get taken care of. But I could not imagine a full scale garden at this time.
I have a few things started and a few more I defiantly want to start. But I’m starting many things in multilayered containers and that may be where they keep growing. I can roll them out the back door into the yard and reach everything easily with one hose. I have containers for water, solar powered water pumps and drip setups that with timers, will make watering just a couple of times a week possible. Here with hillside wind, low humidity, and little rain or snow, watering is often a daily struggle to keep things alive. I’m working this year to do it easier. At 78 with multiple injuries over the years and arthritis setting up shop all over its make it easier or just forget it. I save a lot of heirloom seeds so I only invest in new things to try or replacements for things I’m not so fond of. Without fall shelter and starting inside quite early I’d never grow a tomato or a pepper. I’m finding it nice to start things inside an enclosed porch with lots of windows.
The chickens are doing well this year and two broody hens have me hopeful of seeing some new chicks this spring. I have more eggs from my 10 hens that two of us are eating. I have seed for food plots in fenced off sections of the large outside pen. Mostly the chickens have been working up the ground. Each spring I cast the seed across the worked area then dampen it a few times a day by spraying it with a hose till it’s up and growing then just water twice a week when I go to gather eggs. That way I only buy winter feed. If I grow blots of barley and excess corn I can save that for winter feed and buy much less or none at all with feeding kitchen scraps. I grow extra sweet potatoes, green peas, and carrots to add to rice for dogfood seasoned with scraps and skins from chickens I can.
I don’t work at critters or garden everyday anymore. I take quiet reading times with some tea- cold or hot according to my whims. I planned and have slowly been finished my quiet spot in the garden where I’m surrounded by beauty- climbing roses, runner green beans, trailing nasturtiums and other flowers. Nearby are elderberry bushes covered by midsummer with blooms and berries. I bought several trellises leading to a tall round one that makes a private nook to sit in the shade and read or nap as I wish.
I have been saving wild pink penstemon seeds in the refrigerator. I’ll start a lot of 3 1/2 inch pots of those to sell at the farmers market. Not hard work and a great way to see old friends and earn a bit of spending money. I have more seed than I need for the strawberries I’m starting for my new beds with fresh plants and I’ll sell any extras.
I still enjoy sewing but mostly. I watch for free denim or corduroy pants and pretty prints to make purses, backpacks, and shopping bags. Those will also go to the market in the summertime. I’m thinking about sewing something with the feed sacks I’ve saved. I crochet to keep my fingers moving in the evenings. Right now I’m making a jacket I will wear to town with a favorite new pair of pants.
Yes this years I’ve been sick more, the arthritis hurts more, and I know I’m older and slowing down a lot but not quitting. I have to use my hands and keep moving some or give up moving or living a life I enjoy.
Most of the staples I plant are short season varieties so even if I start the last of the seeds by April I’ll still have a pretty good garden. I just do a bit at a time, look for ways to make it easier on myself, and plan to do somethings in winter so year around is easier. I’ve been slicing and marinating meats and making jerky this winter. Each step doesn’t take long and the drying time in a dehydrator is between 10 and 24 hours if the trays are full. So it’s a good winter project for me because I feel like doing less.
Been there done that. I have had several times when I just couldn’t muster the energy to start the seedlings and all that entailed. It felt a little weird to have to go buy seedlings and I couldn’t find some of the varieties I’d normally plant but it was sufficient to have a decent garden and I was ok with that.