A Composted Life

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks around these unseasonably warm holidays pruning, reshaping, and chopping to the ground perennials in my garden. I’ve shredded fallen dead leaves, chopped up dry twigs, and cut out dead branches. There’s been so much hacking, shredding, chopping, and snipping going on!

All this aggressive yard work to prepare for spring’s glorious garden regeneration reminds me of my post-holiday brutal, self-deprecating mindset. I regress to old habits of tearing myself down in the name of New Year’s resolutions. Yuck! Here we go agoin!

Instead, Id like to learn lessons from my garden. All that “dead stuff” from last year I’ve worked so hard on cutting back can be repurposed to protect and nurture the strong roots anchoring my old perennials. I shred the leaves and blanket my beds with homegrown mulch. I lay dry twigs and branches at the back and in the corners of my garden beds for hybernating insects and other wildlife. Some leftovers I add to my composting barrels and mix with kitchen scraps.  All is put to bed for a nice long rest.

I’m that old anchored perennial! I turned 70 in November and my roots run deep, culturally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. All the detritus from last year I now intentionally choose to gently turn into nourishing warm compost, cuddle myself with it, and eagerly anticipate the new growth that will eventually sprout when the timing is right. I’ll use my past mistakes and successes, turmoil and peace, bad weather and fair skies to grow new sprouts and stretch my rested boundaries. I look forward to the year ahead with excitement, not knowing how my garden will grow in the upcoming seasons.

What dead stuff in your life from last year can you turn into compost for the hew year?