piece of earth while getting back to our life-sustaining roots . We want to do our part in fulfilling our responsibilities in the relationship between ourselves and Earth .

We ’ ve observed that it ’ s no wonder our modern biomes are meager compared to those from hunting , foraging and traditional agricultural societies . The truth is that our bodies actually evolved with and depend on the microflora of those lifestyles . But we lack that today and our mental and physical health suffers for it because our DNA and digestion both remember and are coded to respond best to these activities and to the microbes on the earth . Our bodies , minds and hearts find great fulfilment in them . It is no surprise , then , that getting back to nature is relaxing and beneficial to our bodies and moods . We are hard-wired for nature , despite our collective shift away from nature .

The bottom line is that we are inseparable from nature , no matter how we may act or think otherwise , and we have learned that up close and personal .

Meet Roo , the Black Australorp chicken

We could go on endlessly , but we won ’ t , so we will leave you with two takeaways . One is that a personal application of will is the essential ingredient to your sense of success . Like people , some crops or creatures need little care , while others need a lot of love , but you will always know what sort of effort you cared to exert . In the end , your satisfaction

First Organic egg is with your own effort and that alone . There ’ s one caveat with this : while you

can control what you do , you can ’ t control the weather !

The second takeaway is that the viability of the gardening process ( getting that “ green thumb ”) simply requires opening your heart and mind , allowing for the appreciation , inspiration and understanding of what you observe while working with nature .

Finally , while the first fruits of any planted crops are joyful , there may be nothing more fun and exciting than finding the first egg laid by one of your hens , which happened the day before Thanksgiving . Branwen really felt a flutter in her heart when she found it and she giggled as she ran all the way back into the house , while clutching it in her hand .

We all were in awe of this wonder of nature .

We have much to be thankful for . Even if there are some dark days , we believe that gratitude — and fortitude — can grow the greenest of gardens .

Comprehensive ( but not exhaustive ) list of plants cultivated Year 1 :