What I find interesting about work is that it is an activity that’s un-natural to a degree, we as human choose to par-take in it! Whereas labour is all about survival, if it wasn’t done someone may die..? Worst case scenario! But cleaning the house and cooking is labour, gardening is work because if I didn’t garden there would be no loss of human life.
Looking at ‘Me and my tapestry’ by Katherine Hale (1996) "I have gone from mild interest, to hating it, to loving it to the exclusion of all else, to absolutely-can't-be-bothered, back to loving it", she talks about the preparation time in which someone takes to undertake a task. That the beginning can reach back many years and also go into the future. Oh, how I fully understand this sentiment. I always go from ‘love the idea’, to ‘why did I ever start this project?’
Looking at the practical considerations of work, I have never let them stop me form par-taking in gardening, I see gardening as being both an open and closed activity, meaning that it can be done alone or with company. There is also a certainty about what I do, as I "know" how the aesthetics are to look but the ambience changes each day, much like the weather, after rain it feels cool and clean, after the dogs have bounded through looking, a stick or the tennis ball it feels rumbled and ready for fun.
One of the risks of gardening is that I’ll put a plant in the wrong place not giving it the space that it needs to grow – it pays to read labels! But without risking the practical considerations I would have never started on this gardening journey, for without the aesthetic richness of nature the delicacy of the plants and my participation I surely would have never developed the workmanship skills I have today.
Blogs I've commented on;
KatyM
HeatherL said...
I love that fact you have kept it real - by using your Mum's good dressmaking scissors :)
I also like how you admit that sometimes doing a craft can be a burden, doing it because you need to.
Do we get to see pictures of your work?
18 October 2011 19:24
LynJ
HeatherL said;
Awesome poem Lynn, I was able to connect with it and it brought back many happy memories, thank you for that.
Are there anymore pictures to come? I feel this will brighten your blog.
19 October 2011 16:13
GodhelpN
HeatherL said;
Hi Godhelp,
I so cannot believe my comment was lost from your blog :( so I try again from memory.
I really enjoyed watching you playing at home and am you get so much from participating in it, spiritual, connection, and it must be so great to create ambiance with your skills
25 October 2011 15:40
ErinE
HeatherL said;
Hi Erin,
I really like the way you explained mindfulness, it take me to times when I have been gardening and totally lost control of time. It so joyful!
Do we get to see any pictures?
October 25, 2011 3:48 PM
References used in blogs
Ergonomics – entry 2
Christiansen, C.H., and Townsend, E.A. (2004). Introduction to occupation: The art and science of living. (2nd ed) New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
Lowen, H.D. (2010) Humanities Essay, Otago polytechnic, BT132001
New English Dictionary (2001), Harper-Collins, Glasglow.
Affordance – entry 3
Christiansen, C. & Baum, C. (eds)(1997). Occupational Therapy enabling function and wellbeing. 2nd ed. Slack: New Jersey.
Hagedorn, R. (2000). Tools of practise in Occupational Therapy. A structured approach to core skills and processes. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Steiner Rice, H. (1986) Prayerfully, poems of devotion. London: Hutchinson & Co Ltd.
Affordance part3 – entry 5
New English Dictionary (2001), Harper-Collins, Glasglow.
Added for interest
MythBusters - Talking to plants - part1 http://youtu.be/CMiVNPXR5qw
How to Create Your Own Landscape Garden http://youtu.be/4GQLF7uJCcM
NZ Landscape design New Zealand. Chinese Lantern Festival 2010. http://youtu.be/1Bup0HkOhXw
Mythbusters - Talking to plants - part2 http://youtu.be/FhsbM9LxPAk
Work – entry 6
Hale, K. (1996). Me and my tapestry. Occupation, 6(2), 27-30.
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