I bought some of the Seville oranges yesterday in our local Farmers Market, and made marmalade yesterday.
I usually feel nicely “Mother Earthy” when I do this, and it brings back reminders of my mother making marmalade.
This year because the world has been more precarious because of man-made wars and natural events I feel more purposeful. I am consciously aware of Nature’s abundance, deciding to make more and buy less, and use the resources I already have to reduce waste.
I valued the fact that I was doing it. In the past I might have slavishly followed a recipe, this time I just enjoyed the process and hoped the result would be good.
Enjoyment not perfection is the key
I couldn’t find my lemon squeezer, didn’t have enough muslin and the jars are a random collection. So I cheerfully improvised. And I cut the rind in a variety of ways and I am sure I didn’t cook it for the correct length of time.
But the taste test this morning is good!
I might have some labels somewhere but if I don’t it won’t matter. The people I will give a jar to won’t worry about that.
It can be tempting to feel the world’s problems are so great that we cannot make a difference. I realise the oranges had to come all the way from Spain, that I am not doing anything important, and I could give up marmalade completely. But the act of making it helped me feel productive and happy. By simply making marmalade I actually did something which I will share, and in a spirit of enjoyment.
The Blue Zones research has shown that being content and part of community is a part of staying healthy and living a long and active life. When we are happy our businesses benefit, too.