Basking beneath the winter sun, with the boundless blue sky above, becomes a cherished ritual of mine. Through the tranquil morning, I lounge, immersing myself in the gentle warmth that envelopes my surroundings. While engrossed in a book, I occasionally succumb to a fleeting nap, only to be roused by the sweet melody of a bird—a green-backed tit, gracefully hopping amidst the now dormant apple tree.As the leaves have descended, and the fruit trees slumber, I, unlike them, find myself awakened by these chirping serenades. Blue-whistling Thrush, and a Bulbul also join in creating a lovely ensemble. The sun’s benevolent rays, though inviting, occasionally yield to the passing clouds, imparting a touch of chill to the air. Rotating my chair intermittently, I ensure each facet of my being partakes in the sun’s nurturing embrace. This is a habit I caught on from a friend of mine who visits me from time to time from Almora. It’s akin to turning over again and again while taking a sunbath, but with the clothes on.

In these sun-soaked moments, contemplations drift through the recesses of my mind. The grass, gradually donning a golden hue, reveals the onset of wintry cold. Mornings unveil a delicate frost, swiftly vanquished by the touch of sunlight. Observing a diminutive bumblebee amid the wildflowers, I note its rhythmic dance between sunlit and shaded realms, seeking nectar. A tiny mouse rushes by.

A lazy day is good that it gives me time to admire what nature has to offer. I can also meditate on such instances and feel energized.

Thus, the radiant warmth of the sun, cherished by all, unfolds a sensory tapestry—where nature’s subtleties and the symbiosis of warmth and cold converge in the tranquil theater of winter days. The satisfaction of living a slow life is further enhanced on days like these, thanks to a bright winter sun.

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This morning, with a cup of hot coffee, I sat down on the deck, admiring the beautiful Peach trees growing nearby. They remind me of a battle that I waged against nature and then when I almost lost it, mother nature herself guided me towards the right way to win.

A few years back, I planted some peach trees. From the day I planted them, whenever I saw them growing, I could almost taste the juicy peaches in my mouth. Maybe some nice pies and some delicious cocktails while relaxing in the summer breeze, on a hammock under the tall oaks.

Things started to change when the trees were about 2-3 years old. After the winter, when they started to wake up, the leaves started to curl. New leaves would all curl up and shrivel. With their leaves gone, the trees were having a hard time coping up. As a result when we were looking forward to the fruits, I had to thin them out. After removing most of the fruits, the tree started to concentrate on new leaves but still the leaf curl was there. I had to remove all the fruits. Someone also guided us to add lots of compost or manure and keep it well watered. I did that too. The summers passed with zero peaches for us and lots of work.

A horticulturist told us that it was a fungal disease that was quite common in peaches. He told us to spray a good amount of Copper based fungicide. Even though the organic farmers do it, we were not very happy with the idea. However, the greed for good peaches next year influenced us and I ended up spraying the trees with copper based fungicide after the leaves had fallen off in autumn. Later, I followed it up with another round of spray just before the spring time blossoms. To prevent the fungal spores from spreading again, we had to trim the old oak also nearby, so as to let in more air to blow through the peach tree. All this was in vain. The spring came and the results were the same. Leaf curl, followed by a disheartening task of removing the fruits and then waiting for next autumn to spray again. We were fighting a battle against nature and losing at it.

After two or maybe three years of such battles, we lost all hope and planned to buy peaches from the market rather than grow our own. The trees were left as it is and the horticulturists who visited us kept on pestering us to spray more fungicide. We just ignored them.

The very next year, when we gave up trimming the oak, some green backed tits made their nests in the oak. After a few months, when the spring came, these tits spent the whole of their day feeding on something on the diseased peach trees. This was interesting. Were they feeding on some kind of visible fungus? No, they were feeding on tiny tiny aphids. Bingo ! The horticulturists were wrong all the time. These were the aphids that were causing the leaf curl. The birds kept feeding on the aphids and within a couple of weeks, the peach tree was full of fresh healthy leaves. The fruits were also dangling around. That was the first year when we enjoyed the peaches and that too without spraying any kind of fungicide. Mother nature had taught us.

Today, as I sit here sipping my coffee, I see the green-backed tits again, working steadily on the peach tree. A few blue-coloured birds help them. I have not bothered to photograph or identify them. There is no need to trim the oak tree or spray chemicals. In fact, there is no need to do anything at all. I just sit back and relax. The relaxed feel and free time makes me ponder on more important and deeper thoughts related to life and happiness. When the time comes, the peaches will be ready and we will enjoy pies and cocktails.

Next year, maybe, I will spray some neem oil if the aphids are in excess but I doubt that. I have also planted garlic under the tree in the hope that maybe the antifungal effects of garlic may protect when fungal leaf curl happens. Come to think of it, was Count Dracula from popular literature in some way related to any fungus, that garlic helped protect from him?

Anyway, what I have realized is that nature balances out things. We are fools to believe that we can do better than nature.

That’s slow living for me.

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Since the time I started my life in the slow lane, I have been planting trees. Sometimes fruit trees, sometimes forest trees, sometimes just bushes or shrubs. This has become an activity that I am thinking of most of the time or planning my day around it. Yes, it always gives a wonderful feeling. Planning all the fruits that I may enjoy in future, the shade from the trees under which I can sit and read a good book on a summer afternoon, a pair of thick trees that may support my hammock in future, or the tall chestnut and walnut trees that will provide nuts for the generations to come.

I frequently get totally engrossed in this simple task of planting trees. Maybe it is mindfulness, maybe it is meditation, or maybe it is my love for nature that I also find my Ikigai in this activity.

The fruit trees that I buy are usually sold as bare-root trees, in their state of hibernation. These are planted in winters. There is a method to planting these trees as well. I soak the roots in a bucket of water for around 4 hours in the morning. After that I take these out and plant them in planting holes that I would have prepared well in advance, filling the soil back while holding the tree upright in the center of the hole.

The height of the fruit tree in the planting hole is also a matter of discussion. Most of the fruit trees available nowadays are grafted ones. Some people recommend keeping the grafting joint above the soil. This prevents the diseases affecting the joint and also enables the scion (the grafted upper part) enjoy the properties of rootstock (the base on which the grafting is done). Some fruit trees even prefer the top most roots to be partially exposed to the air! The rootstocks are usually chosen for their disease-resistance though it is not uncommon choosing them for their effect on final tree size. On the other hand, there are some horticulturists who recommend planting the grafting joint just under the soil. Doing so helps establish roots from the scion part as well, which in turn enables a larger and more beautiful looking tree. I use both the methods, depending on what kind of tree I have at hand and the desired outcome.

For shrubs and bushes, I soak the roots for around an hour and then plant them. Recently, I planted some raspberries. They bear fruit within a year or two, and so I am already imagining the fresh juicy berries on my breakfast table. In my opinion, no fruit orchard is complete without some kind of berries.

Apart from the bare-root trees, some nurseries also sell trees growing in small pots or plastic bags. These are my second choice when it comes to buying trees. The advantage is that such trees can be planted all round the year. However, I don’t like them much. First of all, these are expensive. The plant nurseries charge exorbitantly. Maybe due to the fact that most of these nurseries are located in places of easy accessibility and rich people are their usual patrons. Another reason why I don’t prefer these is because the trees get used to the soil in the pot/bag. The soil carries its own signature (nutrients, consistency, microorganisms, fungi, and lots of other factors). Once transplanted, the roots of such trees seem reluctant to leave their comfort zone of old soil and so the tree grows slowly. Transplanting is also a shock for the young tree. Still, the fact that these trees can be planted at any time of the year or can be transported long distances and for a long period before transplanting, makes such plants quite attractive.

Regardless of the type of tree, planting is always a welcome activity for me. Today, I planted some fruit trees and a couple of oaks too. What a lovely feeling it is. We all are indebted to mother nature for providing us with everything, therefore it is also our moral duty to give back to the earth. Planting trees is one such activity that can repay a part of our debt. If you have a place where you can plant a tree, do it !

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This morning, I felt lazy and did not feel like making my breakfast. I went for a coffee with my neighbours. They are good people. More than the laziness, it is the longing for human interaction once in a while, that I visit my neighbours. As such, I am more of a loner and happy in my own company. Later in the day, I had planned on planting some fruit trees today. Our discussion went to this topic and then I realised that very few people actually give a serious thought about how a hole for planting a tree should be dug. So, these are my thoughts for my lovely neighbours to help them in future and for anyone starting to lead a slow life.

This is just about how the hole for planting a tree should be. First of all, it should be dug out of a slightly larger size than you feel is sufficient. There is a method for digging. I first mark the area to be dug, usually a square (and not a round hole). Next, when I start digging, the top soil is gathered on one side of the hole and then the soil from deep down on the other side. Usually, I prefer double the depth of holes than the longest roots visible. The width also is usually equal to the depth but then again it depends on trees being planted. For shallow root trees, the hole should be much broader than deep. It also depends on soil. In a ground full of clay or large rocks, I prefer to dig a large hole. The hole has to be cuboidal. This prevents the roots from going round and round as happens in a usual planter or pot. Also, a little taper of the hole outwards towards the top helps the superficial roots. If you still want to go for a round hole, scrape some of the sides vertically (almost as if Wolverine scratched the side from top to bottom).

Once the planting hole is dug, I do a quick test by filling it with water and seeing how fast or slow the water gets absorbed. Slow absorption means a compacted soil, maybe full of clay. Fast absorption happens in loose soil or sandy soil. Once the water disappears from the hole, I plant the tree.

While filling the planting hole back, the soil from deep down the hole goes in first. The top soil gets filled back on the top. This ensures that the soil structure remains almost as it was before and this also helps in faster establishment of fungal networks in the soil. Even the soil microorganisms and worms, get to stay in their original position. Also shake the plant a little while filling back if it is a bare root one. This will enable an ample amount of soil to get between the roots.

There is yet another thought that has the gardening society divided. Whether to mix compost / manure, in the soil that is being put back in the hole. The ‘for group’ says that it helps in the initial growth of the tree. The ‘against group’ says that it may harm the tender roots and in the long term restrict the root growth to within the hole. I belong to both the groups. I vary my opinion from hole to hole depending on the soil conditions inside and the kind of fruit tree being planted. As a rule, it is better to err on the lower side of addition of soil enrichments than going overboard with this. Also, depending on the texture of the soil, some gypsum, bone meal, or other soil amendments may be needed in different holes. One risk of adding compost inside the hole is that when it is still not completely mature, the composting process may carry on inside the planting hole, which releases methane and therefore has the ability to harm the soil life including the fungal networks.

And now the last part. For ground that is compacted or clay soil, the planting hole should be filled back completely and then a small conical mound created around the plant. The highest point being around the stem of the plant and then slanting out to almost the ground level near the edge of the original hole that was dug. This prevents rain water from seeping in excessively. It’s the opposite of what people usually do. The hole in such a soil that was dug, acts as a planter without any drainage. So, creating a depression around the tree actually ends up damaging the tree by leading to waterlogging in the hole. Most trees hate wet feet.

On the other hand, if the soil is loamy, soft, or sandy, the hole should be filled back to a slightly lower level than the surrounding ground. Even making a central depression and a small circular mound around the hole helps. This helps collect water from rain or irrigation.

I think this is all there is to digging a hole for planting and filling it back. Maybe, I might have missed something. I will read the steps after I finish planting some trees today and add if I missed anything.

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It is said that, how good a garden or orchard is in summers, depends on the hard work done during winters. This may not be the right way of putting things in perspective but still some work needs to be done during winters too.

The sun is starting to shift north and the birds are starting to show signs that spring is not far away. Soon, the trees will start to wake up. This is the time when some pruning has to be done.

Pruning is a very simple thing to do. First, the dead and diseased branches are removed. Next the suckers and water-sprouts are removed. These two are very interestingly named. I can’t help but chuckle whenever I prune these away. After this comes the pruning that some horticulturists swear by. Cutting the branches to have fruits within easy reach, and to have more healthy growth. For apples, the fruiting happens on old wood, so pruning usually is done to remove this new wood and to promote more branching. Peaches on the other hand are pruned so as to remove old wood and promote the growth of new wood.

For apricots, I prefer not to prune at all. In fact, I don’t like pruning to begin with. If nature intended a plant or a tree to grow in a particular manner, who are we to interfere and change that. From what I have gathered, the trees, including the fruit trees should never be pruned. But, if they have been pruned once, then they have to be pruned always. And so, I am stuck with pruning some apple, plum, and peach trees, year after year.

Pruning also seems to give a boost to the ego of many horticulturists and farmers that I know. The knowledge that they can trim a branch just above a bud and then predict how the branch is going to sprout, makes them feel really special.

I, on the other hand, can never feel that ego boost. I always feel humbled by the fact that these trees and their leaves are the only beings in this world that can make their own food. Rest all the animal kingdom is dependent on these original makers of food or other animals for their diet. These trees have been here long before humans even existed. They have seen centuries pass by. The trees have provided fruits since ancient times and no one pruned them then. They have grown and sustained. Who are we to interfere and feel that we can do better than nature ? Problem is that they have not been left in the way they should have been. The soil has altered over the last few centuries, the ecology surrounding the trees has changed, so some efforts have to be put in to provide a setting as close as possible to the natural system and yet have delicious fruits in whatever constraints now exist.

A gray winged blackbird hops around on a tree nearby, breaking my flow of thoughts. Well, it’s time for me to pick up the secateurs and get down to pruning, something about whose, long term advantages are still not clear to me.

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Why don’t I till the soil or turn it over? Why are there weeds growing around in my garden? These and many similar questions keep coming to me and it is hard to convince people with my answers.

Soil is a very complex structure. It’s full of life. Everything is important. Even the so called weeds. They hold the soil together. Their roots make an extensive network in the soil which also works to absorb rainwater. Some of these roots die and add organic matter to the soil. Even the leaves that fall from these so called leaves add to humus. White Dutch Clover is a star in my garden. It helps fix nitrogen, provides home to ladybirds, flowers attract pollinators, and helps in absorption of water. This is just one of the so-called weeds.

Try comparing a patch of land that has been cleaned, the weeds pulled out and the soil left exposed, to another patch of land with weeds all over. Winds will not blow the soil away from the uncleared soil. Water will not erode. In fact, more rain water will reach the depths where there are weeds. On the other hand, just walking around on a cleared up land will compact the soil and make it still poorer.

The fungus that is present in the soil makes a widespread web. The trees, the bushes, and even the low grass are connected to each other. They convey vital information and take care of their lot. A single stroke of spade into the soil breaks all the connections in its path. Imagine what running a tiller or a tractor does to the soil.

There is life in the soil. Apart from the fungal networks, various bacteria work hard to enrich the soil. Tiny creatures like earthworms churn the soil and help in decomposition. Various organisms work at different stages and different levels to bring about the soil that we see around us.

One more disadvantage of tilling is that it forces the soil to release the nutrients needed by plants all of a sudden and excessively. These are much more than the amount actually required and taken up by plants. The excess nutrients just get washed away or wasted. So, with every cycle of tilling or soil turning, the soil is rendered poorer and poorer nutritionally speaking. The burying down of grasses or plants while doing so also releases an excessive amount of carbon that causes a nutritional imbalance for the plants… also not good.

For me, soil is a sacred thing in my garden and orchard. The less I disturb it, the better it is. Chemicals like pesticides, weedicides, antibacterial sprays, etc. are poisons that have been slowly and slowly killing the soil. The nutritional value of produce from commercial farming is going down. Every year more and more chemical fertilizer is needed to get the same produce. This is disheartening. Maybe people will start waking up to this and start respecting soil.

I will start this new year by planting some acorns (that I found on a rock) near a pathway so that some centuries later, someone like me, may sit down under the oak and be impressed by the wonders of nature.

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Waking up to a white frosted landscape, and then observing how slowly and slowly the areas where the sun touches start to turn colorful again, is an experience in itself. Standing outside while the sun starts to kiss the parts of our garden is a lovely feeling. I adjust my location as the spots getting the sun change. Every few minutes, I am forced to move. Every morning, standing around in the sun, and just observing nature, is a blessing that slow living has taught me to admire.

Today, once the landscape was bright and a little warm, I planted some fruit trees. It seems like I am busy planting trees whenever I get a chance. Apples, pears, plums, apricots, and some persimmons. These will take a long time to grow and give fruits. I like the huge trees of heirloom varieties/cultivars. The saplings were bare-root, so these had to be planted while they were still asleep, and without exposing them to open for long. I got them yesterday, so today this had to be done. Even with slow living, at times, things have to be done as a priority.

Saplings or plants sold in pots, with soil around their roots, can be planted whenever one feels like. There is no urgency or a strict time window for them, but bare-root plants adapt better to the new place where they are planted.

I’ve planted various fruit trees today, including some nut-bearing ones. One of the nut species will take nearly a decade or two to yield well. But when it does, my children and future generations will be able to enjoy both their nourishing nuts and the cool shade they provide during warm summers.

The planting took some time and effort. I call it hard work, maybe just to justify to myself the lazying around for the rest of the day, and contemplating on some aspects of life and emotions. So, after planting, I again found a nice sunny spot, to warm myself up, and admire the clouds floating by. In the afternoon, the spots getting sun don’t change as frequently as in the morning. Good for me.

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The weather is quite dry nowadays. No clouds to be seen anywhere. There has been no rain all through the autumn and now we are into winter.

Today, I watered some of my young trees and the lawn. Extensive frost is yet to set in. The deciduous trees have already shed their leaves. A passerby asked me, why was I watering the young plants that had already shed leaves. He was not interested in listening to my reasons but just wanted to comment. I replied that maybe I had hit my head somewhere and lost my marbles. I want to water them and so I am doing that. He was almost convinced that I had really lost it, or maybe he didn’t hear what I said. Quietly, he went away.

The plants may be sleeping but their roots still need water. The same goes with grass too. Deep irrigation also prevents some frost damage. So, yes, everyone should water their garden even when the plants seem to be sleeping and winter is starting to knock on the door. Just ensure that you water in the first half of the day, when the temperature is a little above freezing point, and when there is little to no wind. Instead of sprinklers that wet the leaves, use a garden hose that waters the soil and roots.

Birds seem to understand my thoughts. A group of sparrows and tits settled down on an old apricot tree. They were cheerfully chirping and somehow seemed to say that I was doing the right thing for my garden.

Leaving the garden to grow as nature intended, without any intervention, is the best way. ‘Rewilding’ is the way to go, but till the time nature starts to work its own magic, some corrections by us humans, are needed to make up for the damages that we have done to the gardens and orchards over the last few centuries.

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