Last week on Monday, Josh reached out because about planting some donated orange trees for a potential video shoot. It was a very short timeline, and would require some finagling.

Yet I knew our neighbours were looking for a couple of orange trees, so Mission Orange Tree rapidly shaped our week. I asked Diane if she’d be keen on a tree road trip, and generous human that she is, she was game to drive to Tulbagh, my favourite citrus nursery, and pick them up with me. Taka made wire cages to protect from mole rats.

And now my neighbours and I have a whole bunch more orange trees in the ground than we did one week ago, our nursery is much better stocked, and a rush of blazing energy flowed through our space.

I tend to focus on steady effort, because I see our human need for connection and consistent growth. We need to feel a sense of momentum, otherwise we get stuck. Yet sometimes that can mean I push against a brick wall because I’m so committed to discipline. Doing.the.stuff. when I don’t feel like it.

I don’t think I need to push so hard. Growing well can be more like a game of leveraging one’s energy for maximum momentum. One of the most helpful questions to ask is: What piece of growing feels most impactful, right now?

The orange tree story was an opportunity for huge growth with a little focused effort. When I see farms and individuals flourishing, it is often because they were able to tap into a much deeper, almost miraculous, well of collective energy. There are a million ways in which we are limited and finite as individual, but we also have different things that energise us, and somehow the collective is much greater than the sum of its parts.

So if you’re feeling like you don’t have time or energy for growing right now:

1) Is there a place where you can invite others to share your growing with you? Our Saturday volunteers have energised my seedling efforts because they see the failures and successes, and actively contribute their own energies. What’s miraculous is that their energy is not diminished in the giving! It’s actually enhanced. That said, don’t ask others to do for you. Try to do with others, so you can also tap into their perspective, skills, and energy. Split some succulents to share, plant a tree in a public space, do something fun with others.

2) Is there a part of growing that isn’t tiring for you— that actually energises you? That can be a place to start. For example, I always have enough energy to do cuttings with my daughter Hana. And then once I am doing, I find I can keep doing the good, and sometimes tedious, systems work that ultimately needs to be done.

Here’s to miraculous momentum, and growing together. Have a wonderful week!

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