Blog 2 – My art of living
After spending thirty-seven years in the workplace, I decided to retire and move to the outskirts of town. One reason was to distance myself from the hustle and bustle of the diverse city life. Secondly, I had a long-cherished dream of learning to cultivate soursop, a fruit that I had always desired.
Coincidentally, it was during that time when MCO (Movement Control Oder – The Rule was enforced to curb the Covid-19 in Malaysia from 2020 to 2022.) were implemented. Since I had no knowledge of farming, I had to seek guidance from "YouTube”. Being a farmer myself, I quickly realized that the process was far from easy! While sunlight provides vitamin D to the human body, aiding in the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus, the sun nowadays is different. Exposing the skin for just ten minutes results in a burning sensation, perhaps a sign of climate change.
It is widely known that rainwater is essential for plant growth. However, acid rain resulting from the greenhouse effect causes discomfort even with a slight drizzle. It can lead to minor ailments or even prolonged colds lasting more than three days.
Furthermore, the weed tends to grow around the soursop tree. Its vitality surpasses that of the soursop itself. Weeding becomes a daily task, but it always feels never-ending! Some neighbours suggested using herbicides, which seemed like a "once and for all" solution to eliminate the stubborn grass. However, after careful consideration, I dismissed the idea. The chemicals in pesticides not only affect soursop, but also harm the vegetables and fruits I cultivate within.
Apart from the threats posed by ants, spiders, and insects, the sparrows, bulbuls, hummingbirds, and kingfishers in this area are not as charming as described in children's poems. These flying creatures resemble bombers from World War II. Every morning at dawn, they swoop down in groups, instantly pecking away the flowers and young fruits of soursop, leaving no trace behind!
I loved eating soursop since childhood, and my love for it remains. However, after five years of hard work and toil, there's no guarantee I will enjoy its fruits. But that's alright; if I crave it, I can always buy it. I finally realized this. Whether gaining or losing, everything is subject to fate. At least the fruit trees are still there. The soursop in my garden helps greenify my home and purify the air. Moreover, it serves as a subject for my calligraphy, brush-paintings and a source of inspiration for my writing. It brings me more contentment than chasing TV series or watching movies!
Farming is a return to nature! In my humble opinion, in the early stages of human civilization, our lives revolved around farming for sustenance. After all these years, I have come to understand that it's time to restore this fundamental way of life. In a well-ordered and balanced life, the sequence should be as follows: farmer, scholar, worker, merchant, internet, artificial intelligence, farmer. Similarly, it can be proven that soil, seeds, seedlings, blooming, bearing fruit, seeds, soil — these are the common points between human life and the growth process of plants!
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