For over a decade, we've lived a romantic, nomadic lifestyle, always on the move and never settling in one place. This was the kind of life I dreamed of as a child—"no marriage, no settling down, just making the world my home and traveling it all." The world is so vast, and I’ve always wanted to explore it. Staying in one country or place for too long can lead to aesthetic fatigue. Maybe my personality simply craves change, or perhaps I’ve yet to find that perfect place. According to the Lifechanyuan philosophy, “Wherever you settle, treat it as your home. Protect its environment and create beauty there.” Yes, every place deserves to be nurtured as if it were a spiritual garden. However, constant change has its pros and cons; it prevents us from creating a true paradise, as building a beautiful, flourishing oasis takes time, effort, and resources, often years.
Recently, we temporarily left the first subdivision, and in just four short months, the place transformed. We did a brief cleanup and mowed the grass once during that time, but the rapid growth of wild grass in this climate is astonishing. Coming back now feels like returning to the pioneering stage—an untouched, vibrant, and wild landscape, truly in its most natural state. Yet, we quickly rekindled the passionate labor spirit, turning a blank canvas into an ideal picture, and transforming overgrown land into an orderly and comfortable environment. This kind of work is actually quite enjoyable and fulfilling. The biggest challenge, however, isn’t the overgrown grass but rather the relentless mosquitoes, ticks, and ants that are all too eager to interact with us. Every day, they join in, making their presence felt.
The first subdivision has its advantages, especially the loose, fertile soil, which makes it easier to grow various vegetables. Following the advice of a senior monk, we brought back 10 chickens from the second subdivision. With the seamless cooperation between Huiyi and Guangge, we quickly built a simple yet charming chicken coop. After a few days of intensive grass-cutting and cleaning, the surroundings now look much more comfortable and tidy. The next task is to plant some vegetables and continue with more detailed beautification work.
The first subdivision is a paradise for banana trees; they are still producing more bananas than we can eat. There’s also an abundance of papayas, surprisingly thriving passion fruit, a few eggplants and chili plants, and many flowers that are growing well. However, other vegetables like bell peppers, corn, bitter melon, sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes, green onions, okra, water spinach, and strawberries have long been overtaken by the wild grass, their presence completely erased by the harsh realities of nature. The hardier, woody plants and trees have fared much better, becoming self-sustaining and requiring less management.
So, let's enjoy the photos—small, delicate, tranquil, and simple, breathing freely in a natural, peaceful setting.
2021-9-26
