Is the Grass Greener on the Other Side of Your Fence?
Did you know that the common phrase “the grass is greener on the other side of the fence” originated from the Latin phrase, “Fertilior seges est alenis semper in agris”? Meaning, the harvest is always more fruitful in another man’s fields. This was certainly true in our case! The proof is in the photo.
Thanks to the rain, Wynley Park has been surrounded by lush grass and hay fields this year. Meanwhile, our yard has looked like we are mining black clay. The grass was definitely greener on the other side of the fence for us! Richer harvest too. To be clear, we wanted what our neighbors had. Bad.
When Watering Won’t Make It Any Greener
And watering wasn’t going to help. In our situation, too much water was the problem. You may remember that we were inundated with water several months ago. The combination of a rainy Spring and our waterlogged septic field made a soggy mess of our front yard. What an eyesore a half-acre of mud makes. Never mind the tedium of getting clay mud off of shoes and anywhere from three to six dogs each day.
I am so over mud, especially clay mud! Charley and I have been wanting to move for a long time. We want more land, more room for livestock and my horse, dog kennels, more garden space, pastures for rotational grazing, better soil, a barn, a mudroom… I could care less about the size of a house, but you folks with 14-foot gates, pipe-fencing and a big red barn. Wow, do I envy you.
Accept What You Can; Change What You Can’t
Envy can be a real downer. So can mud. Our yard had to dry out before a new drain field could be built. When the mud finally dried, we hired our friend, Felipe again. He’s an experienced farmer, carpenter and mason. He also knows a good deal about plumbing and septic systems. Our failing septic field no longer held water, but it did contain a perk (as most inconveniences do).
Digging up the entire front yard meant we could make subtle changes in the landscape via berms and dips to divert next season’s rains away from our house and the chicken coops. Turns out Felipe is pretty savvy about flood engineering too. Now we needed a seed to plant…
Charley and I Planted Ryegrass This Month and That Was a Big Deal
After researching, we decided on an endophyte-free ryegrass and clover field. Before making our decision, I researched several types of hay. We needed to plant something that would grow in heavy clay soil but also be palatable and healthy.
How Do You Know What to Plant When You’re Not a Farmer?
It took me about a week to research and talk to a sales person about what might grow well here, while being mindful of the unique grazing needs of alpacas and True (our llama). It took another month of me repeating what I had learned to Charley, second-guessing our choice, re-reading the website and recommitting to this type of ryegrass before we placed the order. I worry so much about misfeeding the animals. Not just our animals. Any animals. Because we plan to leave this land improved when we move on to our next home, we don’t want a lawn grass that would be unhealthy to the future livestock that may live here after we’ve gone. Something as simple (yet scary) as choosing the type of grass can temporarily paralyze me.
Action Feels Better Than Envy (or Fear)
Fear be damned. We had to execute our plan. Temperatures were right for planting and rain was in the forecast. So, we bought 100lbs of seed! I was so excited when it arrived! And then I wasn’t. Now, we had to figure out how to get said seed into the ground. Without a tractor. When your outfit is as small as Wynley Park, you don’t have the luxury of owning a tractor.
Greener Pastures; We Got ‘Em Now
To be dissatisfied with the current situation can be motivating. To believe that others have it better is to live in a dead zone. Grass won’t grow in a dead zone and neither will you. Besides, we have a riding lawn mower. So, Charley improvised by attaching a roll of scrap fencing to the mower to prep the field, then cover the seed with soil.
The sense of accomplishment this view from our front porch brings both of us is something that only those new to farming will understand.
Like a lot of homesteaders, Charley and I are learning as we go. Neither of us comes from a farming background. This urge to grow stuff may be in our veins, but it sure isn’t in our blood. We have found our confidence growing along with this ryegrass though. It’s funny how these tiny accomplishments can renew our sense of purpose.
We have expanded the alpaca pasture and fenced off three sections to let this new grass take hold. We have taken the first small step toward our goal of rotational grazing while learning to make do with what we have for now. Something else we learned this month – the grass you plant yourself is the greenest of all.
Which Brings Me to Gratitude
When life gets complicated, return to the basics. Which are what exactly? My basic may not look just like yours, but for me, basic in its simplest form is comprised of three principles God has asked of me: 1. Live with gratitude, 2. Do justice, and 3. Be kind. We are focusing on one directive, living with gratitude, since this is the month of Thanksgiving after all. God asks his people to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Gratitude is God’s will; not his need. God does not need my thanks or appreciation. His value, his sense of worth is not dependent upon my feelings at all. You won’t hear him say “after all I’ve done for you…”, because feeling unappreciated is a decidedly human trait. Instead, our willingness to give thanks to God in all situations is for our own wellbeing and individual growth.
3 Areas of Your Life that Gratitude is Guaranteed to Improve
Here are three areas that are guaranteed to improve by following God’s directive to live with gratitude…
Mental and Emotional Health
The act of expressing gratitude eases anxiety and heightens contentment. Focusing on past achievements and blessings can provide strong motivation to forge ahead. Studies show that those who are quick to give thanks tend to be more resilient when facing challenges. So, grab a pen and list the positive aspects of your life. Similar to our ryegrass seeds, let your seeds of gratitude nourish the wellbeing of your soul. Maintaining a positive outlook and recognizing the good, even in difficult situations, improves your ability to bounce forward from setbacks.
Physical Health
Stress is useful; it can push us to act or make changes vital to wellbeing. Prolonged stress, however, is unhealthy and is often linked to high blood pressure, heart problems, obesity, unrest, etc. Grateful people report feeling less stress and feeling more refreshed after sleeping. By reflecting on the positive experiences and small joys of your day before bedtime, you may find it easier to fall or stay asleep. Grateful people engage in healthier behaviors too, such as exercising regularly and eating for proper nutrition. Check your gratitude list; see anything on it that makes you breathe easier?
Relationship Health
Are there certain people in your life who deplete your energy? You love them, but you feel drained after spending an hour in their presence. Folks who feel victimized whenever something goes wrong exhaust me. Life goes wrong, for sure. Life also goes right. One of my wisest friends likes to say “what you seek, you will find”.
I have yet to meet a not-dog entity who thinks life is easy. Maybe this is why I often find dog energy easier to sit with than human energy.
Warning: negativity is contagious. Thankfully, so is living in gratitude. Verbalizing thankfulness, towards and in the presence of others, fosters stronger social bonds. Acknowledging all good, including personal achievement, contributions of others, blessings and mercy leads to deeper, more meaningful relationships. When you appreciate the kindness of others, you are more likely to extend kindness and understanding to those around you. Grateful individuals often display higher levels of empathy and compassion.
Have You Finished Your Gratitude List Yet?
Who doesn’t want improved mental, physical and relationship health? Simply making a gratitude list helps shift your focus from what’s lacking to what you already have, usually resulting in a more optimistic outlook. So, have you finished your list?
December is already upon us and Charley and I are humbly practicing gratitude while tackling God’s directives to do justice and be kind, as this is the best way that we have found to get past disappointments. Check back soon as we continue to share our foray into this farm way of life; we hope you’re finding it interesting…
Additional Reading:
The Science of Giving Thanks to God
Gratitude – the Best Way to End 2023 and Start 2024