Unexpected but Necessary ~ Scent Garden Cottage

Isn't it wild how life is like a box of chocolates?! Ever changing and full of surprises! One such surprise completely reshaped my life . . . and here we are!

In 2022, I came to visit my father to support him through illness and aging, basically through the remainder of his life's ups and downs. During caregiving, it became clear that food mattered deeply - not as a set of restrictions, but as a source of strength, nourishment, and healing. Food prepared for him needed to be the very best I could offer. It had to support his body and mind, it had to strengthen his health not burden it.

That desire shaped everything that followed. And boy did a lot follow!

The garden came first; it was grown with intention: no chemicals. I spent my time looking after its soil, its produce, nurturing it with patience and perseverance. Growing a garden is an act of love.

Through the following seasons, the garden taught me a deeper understanding of wellness and life's connections to all living things - and how all living things are connected to the seasons and the land. The garden taught me that if I wanted to be nurtured by food, I must first nurture the environment in which it grows.

So, my relationship with life's processes blossomed, and through recognition it all intertwined. Life, seasons, harvest, rebirth, as well as my old view of 'diet' changed completely. Then I realized that 'diet' was never meant to be 'deprivation' but rather about variety, balance, and thoughtfulness. Sometimes, making better choices and eliminating toxins is the only sensible option. At least, it was for us.

Aren't we all drawn to freshly picked, healthy, clean foods in vivid, natural colors? I live for that - foods are like an artist's blank canvas. Plus, when they are fresh and you begin to prepare them, aromatics or, a scent garden, fills the room even before you bake or cook. From that, Scent Garden was founded.