Cultivating my garden

At the end of Candide, after being buffeted by the trials and tribulations of life, the title character concludes that all he can do is cultivate his garden. As with Candide, it  is clear  to me that we do not live in “the best of all possible worlds.” While there is nothing I can do to change the forces of nature or mankind, I do believe I must try to live well and hope for the best, in spite of that fact. In part, that means living consciously–knowing what I consume and why. If there are changes I can make in my life that make sense, I will. The way I garden and the way I make art is almost as important as the end result. It is thrilling  to create something from almost nothing…whether it is plants from seeds or sculptures from flour, water, and newspaper. The sun is my power plant. And, best of all, it’s free!