I used to hate when people called me “ mat bunga” it sounds so queer and lame. So instead ,I started to grow vegetables along the edge of my house. They did not come out very well. Growing vegetables is not a good way to start gardening. Frustrated I went bizzerk and threw everthing all over the place. No one helped so I stopped. I love nature from the beginning of my childhood. After school , I would lie down with face on the ground to see the little ants and bugs going about their life in and out of the sand. As any kid, I love animals;especially, bugs and little ants. Also the beautiful blooming flowers.
But as I grew older, busy with other things in life, nature was taken for granted and almost irrelevant to notice. The interest was still there though, as by default, I need nature.
Now, I have plenty of time to see and care nature. I could be ‘mat bunga’ for the rest of my life and remain happy and contented. I grow simple vegies and have 20% success rates. Caring for plants is a 24/7 effort and once you started to “interact” with them you know they are alive. A quiet language seems to bridge with all the plants around you. Anytime I felt restless and empty I would go and sit in my garden and let my plants fill me up with their energy. You can almost feel the vibration charging through the skin and into your body and mind.Mesmerizing.
I know it is a long way to reach these kids. For them to understand nature and why we need to care for it. The experience must start somewhere and I hope one day they will look back and feel the connection with nature again.
