The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 191

Welcome everyone to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on this beautiful Tuesday morning in September and day 86 out of lock down. All of September really on the farm is a build up to the end of a years hard work and culminating in the finish of the harvest and tidying up. It was a much bigger occasion when I was growing up in West Limerick. It was a huge tradition in every house and parish to have a big celebration at the end of September and I always try to re-enact the tradition on the farm and gardens at Ballinwillin. All people, all communities everywhere have celebrations of various types at this time of year, but what always stood out in my memory as a child about these celebrations was their inclusivity - nobody was excluded and we celebrated not so much the events but each other and a warmth deep down in our hearts for each other. All differences to one side. Friendship should be a deep root in all our hearts. It is like this wild pink rose you now see in the wilderness, welcoming and warm. So my thought for you all out there today is build up and gather for your harvest and continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other. Be in the now. Be mindful and wear your September smile.

The Mindful Farmer

Patrick