“Trees are the best monuments that a man can erect to his own memory. They speak his praises without flattery, and they are blessings to children yet unborn.”
~ Lord Orrery, 1749
Our humble little farmhouse was built firstly as a two room cottage in 1860 by the original timber-cutter in our area. The walls and ceilings are cedar, the floors are pine. Later, at the turn of last century, the house was added to again, with stone and teak and other found and reclaimed bits of timber.
The land all around was cleared of trees, and the rocks in the paddocks were piled up into stone fences. All was bare and orderly.
But then someone planted trees again. Trees that they would never live to see grow to maturity.
Now our farm is graced with majestic Fig and Teak trees, enormous Hoop Pines, Bunya Pines, Sydney Blue Gums and a grove of ancient and delicious citrus trees.
There’s a beautiful Magnolia, a giant Jacaranda and some ancient palms.
Trees have turned this bare earth back into a home, and they cradle us in their energy.
That’s the thing about planting trees. You need to hold a longer-term vision for yourself, and for the world. You need to have faith in a future you may never see.
The gifts of that farmer’s long-term vision are that we are surrounded by enormous old trees that provide shade and protection for us, and countless critters.
And now we’ve added to this vision by planting apples and pears, peaches and nectarines, mulberries, loquats and avocado trees.
Don’t be afraid to take on big projects. Don’t be afraid to create things, plant things, or start things for which you may never see an end result.
Good things often take time – gardens, quilts, novels, gigantic lego projects, renovations, study, building things…
Your faith in a brighter future is what changes the world, and makes it more meaningful and more beautiful for the rest of us.
What seeds can you plant today? What dreams can you give birth to?
I dare you!
