Gardeners use knowledge of the ways different plants help and hinder one another when planning their gardens. This is called companion planting. Basil planted beside tomatoes, for example, will make them healthier and more flavourful, and helps repel the most disgusting creature on this earth, the tomato horn worm. (Fun fact: One summer, when my kids were still young enough to be willing to do super gross things, they agreed to take care of all my tomato horn worms by chopping them in half with my garden shears. It was deeply, deeply disgusting, but I didn’t have to touch a single tomato worm that season.) Chives should not be planted near beans and peas, something I didn’t know until just now and which might explain why my beans and peas - planted directly beside my chives - were a disaster last year.
I am just like a garden vegetable. There are certain folks who light me up and bring out the best in me, almost without fail. And then there are people who I just can’t seem to connect with, even if we both mean well. There’s just nothing there. Best not to put down roots too near those people. I find it fascinating to notice the way my energy can be instantly affected by another person. My friend Jeff, for example, walks in the room and my heart starts glowing. He just makes me happy. My friend Amy calls and my breathing slows and I feel steady and calm.
I endeavour to be always meeting new people and building community, and it is kind of like putting out energetic feelers to see which people respond back with the right kind of energy. I met one of my dearest friends several years ago when, at her son’s birthday party, we chatted for about ten minutes then looked at each other a bit more closely and said “yeah…I want your phone number.” We both knew the energy was right. Those are glorious moments.
I don’t think you can make it happen when the energy isn’t right between two people. I don’t think you can force it, and so I’m also getting good at allowing myself to accept when I just don’t click with someone. Sometimes that’s really frustrating, when you know that person is a great human or they are friends with all your favourite people and it theoretically should work but just doesn’t somehow. Urgh. And yet, what are you gonna do?
I guess this is my reminder to get out the seed catalogues and get prepared for spring, and also to find the people whose energy feeds you and keep them close. The other folks can have the far end of the garden, no harm no foul.
xo
Shannon
Upcoming Shows (Shannon and Jakeb)
We are so happy to be part of the lineup for the sold out Walk the Line show on February 23 benefitting Greenwood Coalition. Thanks to Sean Carthew for inviting us!
Mark your calendar for April 20, when we’re teaming up with Katie Hoogendam and Whitney O’Hearn - two of my longtime artistic collaborators and favourite people - definitely basil to my tomatoes - for a show in honour of Earth Month. More details to come but it’ll be local and quite special.
Featured Playlists - #MusiciansforPalestine and Ten Songs calling for peace in Palestine
Listen to #MusiciansforPalestine.
Listen to Ten Songs calling for peace in Palestine
Fresh or dehydrated, we're always good together, all year 'round! Ha ha ha!
Love this!