Dear Friends,
While most children were dreaming of being doctors, teachers and police officers when they grew up, I had every intention of growing up to be a witch – a wise nice one. Raised on a steady diet of Enid Blyton’s, Roald Dahl’s and other fantastical literature, I was surprised at the lack of aspiration in my peers. A wand clearly out-weighed the advantages of a stethoscope in my mind. Despite the insistence of many an elder about the lack of magic in the world, I was convinced otherwise.
Dahl once said: “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” As the day for harvesting my home compost arrives, I think of this and stand steadfast by my belief in magic. In the compendium of daily magic, the transformation of organic waste to soil, I am quite convinced, must feature in gold lettering. I have been composting my kitchen and garden waste for almost three years now. I know the science and have met the many little critters who play a part in this conversion – yet the experience of having dropped in a load of smelly decrepit vegetables and extracting a month later, the dark crumble of sweet-smelling compost – never grows old. Every harvest, I find myself seized with wonder. I play my part to the hilt of course. As I turn the pile in the cauldron like composter, I secretly mutter to myself: “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” The little witch in me is delighted.
This episode of The Curio-city Collective podcast we meet with some fellow believers in magic. Composting enthusiasts Savita Hiremath, Keshav Jaini and Padma Patil speak of how the mere act of giving attention to their waste has been transformational. In my essay ‘Returning to soil‘, I chart my own journey and experience of working with waste and draw in the many poets and mystics who have considered the subject of soil. In a conversation, Keshav Jaini shares how working with the next generation on building knowledge and action around waste management is pivotal. In our upcoming extra, 11 year old Gautami speaks about what draws her to the world of waste and regeneration.
All this and much more in the coming days! So do join us on our social media spaces to keep up and learn more about how composting can be empowering and enriching to our land and to our souls. Please do encourage more of your family and friends to join our newsletter as we chart this journey to improved collective well-being.
Wishing you a magical week ahead!
Warmly,
Arpita
(Team TCC)