DAY 21 PLANtED, HARVESTED AND PRESERVED

While preparing my Christmasy cabbage stew today, I opened the freezer and was delighted to find a whole jar of bay leaves that I had stored there after the summer. These bay leaves come from my tiny plot, and I planted, harvested, and dried them myself. It made me so happy to use something I grew and prepared in my cooking. Then, as I stood there, I started thinking: this isn’t the only thing I’ve had a hand in making .
I also have raspberry syrup from the harvest on my little plot, lavender bunches I use for inhalation, and pine syrup I made from pine needles my mom and I gathered in the woods. And that’s not all. When I opened my pantry, I found so many little things that, while not completely self-made, have my tiny fingerprint on them. Each one comes with a story—how I picked fruit with Rachel, pruned lavender in the sunlight, or carefully planted and harvested my own garlic. These small things bring me so much joy because they’re not just products; they’re memories.
I hope that next year, as I plan and plant, I’ll be able to grow even more—not just in my allotment but perhaps in pots around my home, too. There’s something so deeply satisfying about these little creations - they bring pure joy!