A Minute of Mud Week 2 - ‘Five Ways of Grounding, Engaging the Senses and MIT’s Mud Magic’
The warm sun this week, but slightly crisper air has got me all excited. The turn of the seasons is such a wonderful time, when you can physically see the world changing right before you. I can smell people's open fires on my walk home from work and that’s always a comfort to me. It makes me smile. The smell of wood burning as the light begins to dim brings back so many memories, campfires on the school field, bonfire night, roasting chestnuts at Christmas. It gives me that warm hug feeling that I believe stems from our ancestors, safely huddled around a fire, in a cave while the scary world rages outside.
Smells are powerful things, they can instantly take us back to a moment from our past, a favourite food, holiday destination or family gathering. I am willing to bet that many of you have a favourite smell and I reckon it’s linked to a memory. The smell of freshly baked bread reminds me of primary school for some reason and tomato plants of my grandma's greenhouse.
Our senses are an important human function that I think we often take for granted. Whenever I talk about wellbeing I always start with the senses, engaging all five is essential for taking your body from a place of ‘fight or flight' to calm and restoration. When I talk about how to design a garden or how to help young people get into plants, I go back to the senses. Great gardens engage all five and my planting plans often ensure there is something that ticks all the sensory boxes.
In this week's video I talk through a quick technique called ‘Grounding Five’. For those of you who aren't that familiar with what grounding is, think of it as a reset, a way for you to take a moment from everyday life to pause. ‘Grounding Five’ takes less than a minute and it goes something like this:
Notice five things you can see, this could be trees, clouds, weeds, anything around you. It’s better if you are outside but you can do it indoors.
Tune in to four things you can hear, the birds, wind, traffic, even your own breath.
Find three things you can touch, bark of a tree, the soil, or even the sleeve of your jumper.
Notice two things you can smell, flowers, fresh bread, a candle, grass.
Finally, one thing you can taste, maybe just the fresh air or your morning coffee.
There are many variations of this type of exercise but I find this one works well in a garden or outdoor setting. I would love for you to give it a go and tell me how you got on.
Now this week's ‘Mud in the News’ is from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where researchers have developed a method to use soil found on building sites as 3D-printed formwork for pouring concrete, which would replace traditional wood molds. Now the more we can use mud the better, as long as it's already been used/disturbed, and we are not digging up new patches of earth and further disrupting vital microbes and organisms.
That’s it for this week. Enjoy all of the smells, tastes, textures, sights and sounds you will experience.