Lettuce Love One Another!

  I have come to a conclusion about most self sufficient type folks: we have a massive block about receiving. Whether that means receiving equipment, funds, advice, or help many of us seem to freeze up or retreat or just be painfully awkward when we are faced with a situation in which we are being offered something. I think I will attribute this to our deep deep desire to be strong and independent...or at least to be perceived as such.

  We believe the pinnacle of success is reached when we are dependent on no one but ourselves, or even better: when we can help sustain others! Oh the bliss of sharing your produce or eggs with neighbors! It makes you feel almost giddy to think of someone else enjoying your hard work! We are very comfortable with giving (except for our prized foraging spots...we'll take those to our grave thank you very much), but receiving can make us feel like we have failed in some way.

Achievement unlocked: I shared lettuce and other greens!

  I don't know about you but I have things I'm extremely good at (in homesteading and life in general) and things that...well...perhaps are best left to the professionals. If I tried to sustain myself on my halfway there homestead right now we'd be eating a lot of salad greens and not much else. BUT! I have salad, my neighbor has eggs, hey presto! a complete giving/receiving circuit because we are both abundant in something the other needs. Similarly, when you purchase something from your local farmer or forager you are acknowledging your need for the cabbage or mushrooms or whatever while simultaneously filling their need for the cash you brought with you. All needs are met, everyone wins. This is how successful communities are nourished.

  The sticky part for me though is when the item I have to offer is not a physical item at all, but time, experience, research, network, or some other less tangible resource. I have a heck of a time putting monetary value on those things. Which would tend to make me easy prey for someone seeking to take advantage of that but I have a secret weapon! I have surrounded myself with the shield of a loving community. I have really incredibly real, honest, and caring people in my life which is an enormous blessing for uncountable reasons but the one that pertains to today's topic is this lesson that I am learning: If I could not fathom and am made uncomfortable by taking tangible and intangible resources from my community without reimbursement of some kind, aren't I making my community uncomfortable when I don't allow others to reciprocate toward me? Yeah, let that one sink in all you givers!

   We give plants water, care, and protection to enable them to reciprocate that with tomatoes, cukes, and greens. We give our horses and dogs food, water, shelter, and love to enable them to reciprocate with services of protection or transportation. We give our farmer's market vendors money to enable them to reciprocate with tasty produce. We give our communities love, support, and inspiration to enable them to reciprocate the same when we need it.

Lettuce love one another, so we can be loved in return.