May 16: Happiness, it’s just over there!

“Beware of Destination Addiction- a preoccupation with the idea that happiness is in the next place, the next job or with the next partner. Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are.”

Robert Holden

Growth is our game, both as a farm growing things every day, and as a small business, growing in capacity and success. And it can be challenging to find the perspective of contentment while maintaining the perseverance for development. But it’s a teeter-totter that we balance in all of our lives.

To stand from this point in time and be constantly sure that the happiness or success you truly desire is just…right there… *gestures and reaches wildly away* is a trap that we all fall into. As a farm, it’s so easy to say:

“Oh, next month the weather will be what we want”. “Next week we’ll have the perfect market stand”. “Next year our asparagus plants will produce more”.

Instead, we need to look around and take today for what it is; take May for what it is; take what we have achieved, or not, both as badges of honour; stand in the field and eat fresh, tender spinach still damp from the rain storm; fill a van with produce and have smiling faces “thank you” for growing their food.

That is it. It is what today holds, and it is plenty, and it is the happiness we have.

Today held a mixture of offerings: overcast clouds that swirled and threatened rain all morning during the harvest. Brand new fabric covering the field paths. Strange, suddenly powerful sunshine blaring into the field tunnel as we transplanted tomatoes and cucumbers. But the herb aromas during bunching were divine, the shiny new, weed-free paths look great, and the new crops are tucked into the earth…and that’s all pretty special.

We are back at the market this weekend, and with it being Victoria Day Long Weekend, what excuse do you have for not coming and filling your bag with local, delicious, fresh goodies?? Might be a bit of a wet one, but all the more reason to visit your local farmer or crafter…Prove to us you’re not just a fair-weather farmer’s market go-er!

We’ve got pea shoots this week and our dynamic herb salads are looking real tasty so make sure you try this week’s blend.

See you then!
-the OKHP Crew

"Remember, remember, this is now, and now, and now. Live it, feel it, cling to it. I want to become acutely aware of all I’ve taken for granted."

Sylvia Plath.