Can I claim "gaining of wisdom" for not doing hard things?

3 days ago

3 min read

Can I claim the "gaining of wisdom" for not doing hard things?

Letter from the farm – August 2026

Hey there,

How are you? Hopefully you have been like us and kept the winter sniffles to a minimum? I think that we have managed because of our mild winter and maybe a little good luck!

Winter mornings have been foggy more than frosty. We have had good rainfall, plenty of ground cover and great growing conditions, creating a micro-climate with a lot of moisture.

This means my sunrises are often lost to thick white fog and the limited vision highlights the sun rays beaming through the tree branches (I can’t see much further than the trees close by!) We have not had many mornings of boots crunching on thickly frosted lawns and I don’t think the kids found any puddles with a layer of ice frozen on the top this winter.

I believe the farm looks the best it has all year, probably the best it will ever look in my opinion. I love the seasonal change we experience but there is nothing like green grass everywhere, I wonder if that is from growing up in Sydney?

If you were here with me now, we could go for a walk together and see the canola flowering, oats and wheat crops nearly as tall as the fences and ewes with new baby lambs. We would be lucky enough to even catch a great sunset like the one in this letter, I know we would!

Avalon Farmstay has been really busy, and bookings for The House (our second accommodation option) have been beyond our expectations! It’s really exciting because now we can see all our hard work looking back at us in the form of an amazing, welcoming space that we know the guests will love. Then I look at our social media and I know that it could be better (that is a very kind version of my thoughts).

I know that Avalon Farmstay and the work we do is a great story to share and what I do share is enjoyed, but it’s hard! Some days (to be honest – most days) I think about posting for social media but don’t get there.

Everyday I have more jobs on my to-do list than time and I choose what is most important; to me that is cooking healthy meals, helping with homework and after school activities. Then I add on the jobs that are not my favourite but are not negotiable.

Philosopher Loa Tzu said “To attain knowledge add things every day. To attain wisdom subtract things every day.” I read that and wondered what I would be comfortable to subtract? I like that I am optimistic and enjoy dreaming big, would that have to change?

Then I thought about my poor attempts at social media and realised maybe I am doing it? Maybe I am subtracting things every day, subconsciously making that decision that is right for me.

Do you think I can claim the gaining of wisdom for my imperfect social media account? Won’t change the work I have already done (or not done) or even how hard I find it, but will probably change the way I feel about it!

As winter comes to an end, so does the citrus season so make sure you enjoy what you can find close by to you – our oranges have been so sweet and abundant even the fussy eaters at our house have enjoyed them. Maybe that is why we have avoided the winter sniffles?

That also means that Spring is tomorrow and its time to start thinking about spring/summer vege planting. Do you ever think that you would like to try growing a garden? I remember Dad telling Mum to start getting the vege patch prepared around father’s day so that it will be ready to plant by the October long weekend. It’s funny because Mum is the gardener!

So, make sure to give a little of your September to getting your garden organised, however that looks and if you are like mum – sorry for telling you something you already knew!

Until next time, sending my love from the farm,

Love Em.