Somewhere along the line I awakened to the plight of commercial animal farming in a way that went through and through, so chicken eggs of free range, loved and species appropriately kept birds was the only way to go if I wanted to eat any animal product.
The process of becoming aware of consciousness shining through everything manifest has only deepened. I have always felt close to nature and the native American philosophy of nature and her creatures as our relations, but it acquired a feeling dimension and awareness that was profound.
For me, it is not humans first but humans alongside the other sentient beings, in reciprocity, in gratitude in recognition and respect for the fellow creatures here on our home planet, mother Earth.
These days, gardening, food or otherwise, for me has to consider the ecosystem of the soil, the insect community, mammal, amphibian, snake, bird and plant communities.
It is difficult to recreate a truly native plant community, on 2 acres in an area that has been inhabited by farmers for a few hundred years, especially if one also plans to have a food garden….and on land that is not my own. But i try.
Chickens are a delightful part of our garden ecology.
It is an ongoing journey. Posts related to holistic gardening will be in the category of: holistic gardening.