Planting more seeds...

'We talk endlessly about the need for balance, by which we usually mean the balance between work, family and leisure. But there is another quite magical possibility: balancing the stresses, disappointments and terdium of life with the therapeutic release of tension through some form of regular creative outlet that restores your sense of perspective and your sense of worth while connecting you to others.' - Hugh Mackay, Participation Society

Its been floating around for at least a year now - the idea of transforming part of the Newtown cemetery into a garden where local people can come together to plant seeds, grow friendships and harvest a new and deeper sense of community. In recent weeks, this idea has begun to acquire some of the characteristics of reality. Several Newtown people have joined with the residents of the cemetery cottage and a handful of others connected to St Stephen's church to clear the cottage grounds, prepare the soil and mark out garden beds. Saturday mornings have become gardening mornings, and though I haven't been too useful given my advanced state of pregnancy, it's been great to meet new people over a handful of weeds and a cup of tea. And although we haven't yet planted a single seed, you can already see progress - in terms of both the transformation of the cottage yard and the creation of neighbourly connections. It's the beginning of a beautiful thing.