A Book Under A Tree
When a friend asked me why I hadn’t written anything for so long, I simply replied that this is slow living. I write when I feel like it or when I’m reminded to do so, and otherwise, I’m content living my unhurried life. Over the past few months, I’ve discovered several nooks and crannies where I can sit, lean against a tree, and read a good book. Reading outside in the fresh air, with the natural world surrounding me, is an entirely different experience than sitting inside. The environment competes with the book for my attention. If the surroundings are…
Keep readingGrowing Peaches with Nature’s Guidance
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…
Keep readingNo Calendar, No Clocks …
The best thing about slow life is unlearning the use of calendars and clocks. It has its own challenges. For decades, I was driven by the calendar. There were the notorious Monday blues. The weekdays always dragged on. The weekends were awaited and somehow they flew by even before I could feel them. The clocks ! They were yet another force guiding each and every day. When to reach the office, when to meet the people, reaching late was frowned upon and overtime was happily overlooked by the HR along with the board members. The day, I started my journey…
Keep readingPlanting Trees
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…
Keep readingIdeal Hole for Plants
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…
Keep readingPruning Time
It is said that, how good a garden or orchard is in summers, depends on the hard work done during winters. I do not completely agree with it, but still some work needs to be done at times. 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…
Keep readingReducing Carbon Footprint
I had just now finished my lunch, sitting under the sun, while a group of tiny birds hopped on a nearby apple tree. Simply steamed porridge with a fresh salad made up of local vegetables, tossed in oil and lemon juice. Salads are delicious. They are also comfort food. Good to look at, delicious, healthy, and easy to prepare. So far, we have had a dry spell in the winter. Not at all good. The climate crisis is taking its toll everywhere and people are turning a blind eye to it. Reminds me of the proverbial frog in boiling water.…
Keep readingNo Weeding, No-Till
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…
Keep readingA Lazy Day
Usually, I am an early riser. Today, just before the dawn, a drizzle started. The pitter-patter of the rain was so hypnotizing that even after waking up, I once again slept off for about an hour. Later our resident blue-whistling thrush, who has the nest just outside our window, started to sing. It was then when I got up. No fancy alarms can compare with the voice of this bird. Everyone else is also asleep, so slowly I crept into the kitchen and put the kettle to boil. I am not a tea or coffee connoisseur but on rare occasions,…
Keep readingTree Plantation goes on …
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…
Keep readingWatering my Garden in Winter
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…
Keep readingMy Journal
Today, I have started writing a small diary here. No photographs, no videos, but just simple thoughts that flow. It seems like just yesterday that my friend and I were sitting in one corner of the deck, late in the evening, sipping our drinks and brooding over the simmering lights on the distant hill across the valley. A moment to savor. The cool breeze and a ‘who-who’ of an owl somewhere nearby. We talked about how villages do give peace of mind, but at a cost. The finances go for a toss. Job opportunities and businesses usually don’t do so…
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Maini's Hill Cottages 