Garden mulch, writing by hand, and thought-provoking podcasts

TSD#008 - tips & insights on making a slow, well-rooted life

Welcome to the slow down, a column featuring tips and insights for making a slow, well-rooted life.

It’s been a while since I’ve published one of these columns. Each one features a tip to help you practice slow living, a bite-sized nature reflection, a quote that made me pause, and recent media I’ve found interesting/challenging/compelling.

If you’re new and haven’t seen these before, you can check out the entire catalogue of the slow down (TSD) posts in this section on my Substack. It’s meant to be a practical, reflective, and fun. ☀️

---

the slow down tip

Write it by hand. I’m convinced one the best things we can do to care for our nervous systems and minds is to put an actual pen (or pencil!) to paper to let what’s inside get out. Whether its a to-do list, a sketch, a mind-map of floating ideas, or a letter to a friend, writing by hand is a grounding practice. It slows us down, makes us focus our attention, and while I’m not a scientist, I suspect it activates different parts of our brains than computers do.

Your slow down tip for today is to weave in the practice of writing by hand wherever it makes sense to you.

nature speaks

Mulch is garden magic. Its keeps the ground covered, which protects the soil and clay from the excessive sun exposure that kills off beneficial critters and bacteria. It breaks down slowly, allowing the earth to become pliable, soft, and ready for planting. It retains moisture, so freshly watered plants can drink of their daily watering slowly and over time. Mulch is an essential barrier, making sure that what’s planted has the right conditions to grow and thrive.

We received a huge mulch delivery a few weeks ago, and I was thrilled.

We used a company called ChipDrop. They coordinate with local arborists to deliver excesses of wood chips to the gardeners who need them most. Receiving this huge pile of hardwood and pine chips made my day and I was thrilled to spread the mulch around my recently planted perennial shrubs. Contemplating the sheer blessing of these chipped down of trees got me thinking, “What does good mulch look like for the soul?”

Nature Speaks:

What provides a needed buffer from life’s harshness? What helps us to slow down and soak in the nourishment we need? What protects the tender, vulnerable parts of lives? What might it look like to ensure we have the covering we need as we move our days?

The answers are likely different for all of us. I immediately thought of my husband, and my parents. I thought of the safety and sense of connection I feel in my home. There are likely other “mulches” in my life too. What are they for you?

quotable

“Because only in this yearning for ourselves [our true identity], for who we are called to become, can we truly experience our yearning for God.” — Mother Siluana Vlad in God, Where is the Wound? Healing Remedies for Today’s World.

off the shelf

For my birthday earlier this year, my husband gifted me the book Liturgies of the Wild by Martin Shaw. His storytelling and meaning-making are compelling and rich. I’m only half-way through it and can’t wait to find conversation partners to hold this text with me. I think you should check it out by clicking here.

worth lingering over

• This podcast conversation on whether or not race should matter in college admissions.

• This other podcast that’s been a challenging, but insightful, resource as I’ve been deconstructing my political identity.

• This song by Noah Kahan, as its got me all in my feels about being from a small town and the desperation I used to feel about leaving.