Yes, it would be wonderful if the whole world was as you describe. All we can do is help create such a world in our local environs. Actually, that is the world we live in!

@@helendew5333 it all starts inside each one of us. Peace begins with me! ❤️

We weave the world we live in day by day, through our thoughts, actions, and the relationships we form with one another.

Amen!

This too is my hopes and dreams... I am a Gardener and want to instill it not only in family but others as well. What a Beautiful woman. I pray that I will be like her when I am 85 🙏💛🙏

Thank you for your kind comments. Whilst you might wish to be like me, you'll develop into your best self by living each day with passion and purpose.

Me too!! Thank you Happen Flims for beautifully sharing this inspiring person and her story. I feel a fresh wave of inspiration and motivation fill me. What a marvelous path she walks and teaches from🙏😊

I’m 59 as well and I agree. She is a beautiful human.

My 75-80 yr old aunts/uncle mentioned that they had to give up gardening because bending over was too difficult. I bought them a few raised beds that are shallow but high enough (@4ft) so they don't need to bend over and could sit by the bed to pull weeds, etc. They ended up enjoying the beds and planting tomatoes in flower container pots, etc. They still seem to enjoy it...esp since the prices of fresh veg have gone up so much.

I'm glad to hear that you've returned to gardening. I hope it recharges your batteries as well as it does for me!

Good for you. I used to garden a lot and found so much joy and serenity in doing so. I am currently unable to do that because I am traveling long term ( before I’m too old, 66 now ) and I miss it terribly. Once I am done with travel, I will throw myself back into gardening and never take a moment for granted. I remember one of my life’s 3 epiphanies came one very early morning, dew still on the ground, as I was replanting small tomato plants, hands in the dirt, I looked up and thought “this is what happiness is”. It’s the little moments of pure joy that truly matter. Take care.

@@Booboonancy Thank you all for your support and good wishes! I love the sense of experimentation and beauty that it brings. Hope to have some vegetables to share with other seniors.

why an oak? do those grow well in your part of the country?

My mom is buried under a massive oak tree. I love to go sit under it on a warm evening.

I wish it were easier here in the United States. I would like to be buried in my niece's forest.

I want to be buried in a chicken cage so they can eat me and turn me into eggs that someone else can eat

I requested that of my family, and they told me, "That's against the law." 😢

Frittata is such a healthy meal, especially if the greens are freshly harvested and the eggs are free range.

I am 59 and this is how it was when I was a kid. Learning and listening to wisdom for old folks! These young kids today don't know the value of listening and hanging around and learning how to survive in this world from the elderly? They are drunk on social media!

@@allthingznatural5592 Please remember that it is social media that brought us Helen's story. Like anything in life, it can add value when used correctly. Blessings.

@@thisorthat7626 Used in a positive way it is a great tool.

Thanks for your comments . I also use the bokashi system for my kitchen waste, which increases microbial life when added to my compost. Where do you live?

I'm not crying! Thank you, Beautiful Woman.❤

​@@helendew5333I met u once in Carterton and still have your seeds. I'm 'over the hill' in Palmy. Huge fan of Bokashi been using it about 10 years here and ovsrseas. Make my own Bran now

​​@@helendew5333he is from Canada. Has his own UKposts chancel - click his logo.

I feel the same as you. I wish peace and hapiness on your journey.

@@SIERRATREES Thank you!

Thanks very much for your kind comments. My garden is my 'happy place', where I recharge my batteries. I hope yours continues to do the same for you for many years to cone !

Thanks very much for your kind comments . I plan to set dates for my next workshops as soon as I return from the hospital, where I'm recovering from a fall. I live in the wairarapa. Where do you live?

@@helendew5333 So wonderful to hear from you ! I hope you are feeling well and can return home soon. I am Costa Rican, so , if possible, do you ever do workshops where someone can listen in on Zoom or another platform ? If it can't workout I understand, but perhaps someone can set it up for you and others from around the world can hear what you have to teach !

@@helendew5333Helen, you are an amazing woman. Thank you so much for not allowing that depression you suffered from during Covid, overtake you. I know what it’s like to fight depression. Thank you for helping me to realize that even though I’m 51, it’s not like my life is half over. I have so much time left to make a difference, and today is another opportunity to make that change. Thank you again for being a gift to this world. ❤

Thanks very much for your kind comments.

Thak you for your kind comments. I'm curious! Where did we meet, and with what purpose? Yes, Happen Films do amazing work!

*Fistbump* brother

@@CanadianPermacultureLegacy 🤜🤛

Rockin' !

Wow thank you for sharing! We love hearing how our films have impacted people. Wishing you continued success with the forest!

@@moonmist9 I was a notorious black thumb and I can share you how I personally did it, it was smooth and easy. Well first of all I hesitated to start a permaculture for more than 10 years, when someone told me ''DO IT!'', and so I did it and realized how easy it is, and I had wasted 10 years because of fear of failure. Let me be the one to tell you, DO IT! There are lots of great youtube channels that could take you from ''total beginner'' to having a very good fundation. Channels such as Charles Dowding have great videos that would sky rocket your knowledge of how to work with different composts, how to make your own compost, how to plant and care of veggies for your garden. Even if he lives in England in a total different climate, the information is still extremely solid about veggies and especially compost. Another great channel is CanadianPermacultureLegacy 🖕up in this conversation. But personally there are like 15 channels that really changed my life, so just browse youtube for permaculture and organic gardening. Be careful, not all channels are good. You should also go in the forest from time to time, sit down in a spot that has no human interventions and watch how mother nature works. Look the diversity of species, the density of the vegetation, the different layers of canopy, and how the ground is always very well protected by organic matters and plants. Grab soil in your hand, smell it, this is what healthy soil smells like, you will want to recreate that when making compost. From there you could start your own compost station and your organic garden (this summer!) .This will give you basic experience how the soil works and keep you very busy and happy. Meanwhile, I would order the books ''Teaming with bacterias'' - ''teaming with fungies'' and ''Teaming with nutrients'' from Jeff Lowenfels. Those book will really unite all the dots together, for me ... it was a life changing experience to read those books, way beyond permaculture. After reading those book you will not be in the unknown anymore, you will know whats going on in your soil and that will change everything. You will also need to order book on native trees of your region. There are books that contain every native tree-shrub-plant species of where you live and how to identify them. So you can read those books and see what you would like to have in your permaculture. You will see what fruit - beries - medicinal herbs etc have been growing in your region for centuries, and you should focus on growing species that are adapoted to your climate, at least at first to give your food forest a solid fundation. Then you can start contacting different tree nurseries in your area to know what they have for sell. If you are lucky, there will be a tree nursery which only sell native species, those nurseries are very very very important. Often those nuseries will not necesseraly be in your town, but they have online stores where you buy and get those native trees shipped to you. Often those nurseries are very ethical too, producing their own trees from their own seeds, not foraging them from a nearby forest. From there, you could start making a plan of your property, make drawings of how you would like your permaculture to look like. Where patch of trees will be, where paths will be, a pond maybe etc. After a big rain, walk on your property and identify the spots where drainage is less efficient, you will want to plant moist tolerant species in those areas etc. Then you could start working the ground as you want it to be, with bumps and hills maybe, maybe dig the pond where drainage is bad etc. Its time to work the ground before you plant everything, then its too late. Then you can start planting indigenous, fast growing trees-shrubs here and there just to give your forest a fundation. Around those trees you can plant indigenous (or hybrid) fruit trees - berries bushes, medicinal herbs, flowers, nuts etc. From there you just keep enlarging the patches until they all meet together. Diversity is key. Thats how I did it, and it was such a fun experience, without failures really. Thats one way to do it I guess :)

Thanks for your kind comments. I'm really honoured that Happen Films chose to make my film! I've loved watching their inspiring films over the years.

Thank you for your acknowledgement . It's much appreciated!

Great to hear you enjoyed it and you could have watched more. Thanks!

Thank you for your comments. The whole series is short interviews with amazing people from 5 different continents. You can tune in to hear one each month of the year.

Thank you for the info,,,I love watching happenfilms, and this one really warmed my heart

​@janieterrel681 thanks Janie. I have loved watching Happen Films over the years. Their stories help to make our world better for people and planet.

Thanks so much for your kind comments. Seems my poem has struck a chord for quite a few people. I'm pleased that it was included in the film.

@@helendew5333Thank you again Helen for being an inspiration to your community and the world. I wish you a speedy recovery from your fall❤😊

Thank you for your kind comments. I will watch Cry of the Innocents when I return from hospital where I'm recovering from a fall.

@@helendew5333 Thank you, Helen. So sorry to hear about your fall. Sending healing energy to you. 🙏

Become your best self by living day by day with purpose, being true to your values, respecting nature, and forming strong bonds with fellow travelers in this wonderful world.

@@helendew5333 Beautifully stated, Helen. Thank you for your wisdom and your love for nature and society. Blessings.

Yes, there are lots of wonderful individuals and groups quietly working away to help make life better for people and planet.

Lorraine I thought the poem was so moving as well. I cried and then I laughed. I hope you feel 100 % very soon.

Hang in there! You will eventually rise above this, but I know it's hard to endure when you're in the midst of this awful illness. Don't be afraid to ask for support - I've found that people welcome the opportunity to assist when asked. Perhaps you have gardeners among your friends?

@@helendew5333 Thank you I have friends that are being amazing and my garden is ok and my oasis even just standing watching the birds, I ignore the weeds. Just thank you for your poem, it made a difference just hearing you read it - there is light at the end of the tunnel. Nga mihi nui

Thanks for your acknowledgment . I'm pleased that people are keen to learn from me. However, I'm impressed with the wisdom found in many younger people these days. Gretna is one outstanding example.

Gretta!

Thanks for your kind comments. The depression associated with covid is hard to describe. I hope you've made a good recovery.

Thanks for your kind comments. I feel blessed that Happen Films chose to record my story, and that it's being shared so widely.

Hi Linda. Yes, these HF films are so varied and inspirational. Always worth taking the time to watch - and worth sharing with others!

Thanks Esther. I'm glad you enjoyed my film!

Thanks for your kind comments. I agree - it's wonderful to have this film to pass on to my family.

Thanks for your kind comments. If you're already active and productive just keep on day by day with your interests and passion - and gather others around you to share your journey.

Hi Tess, thank you for your kind words. I don't know where you live, but do lobby your council if you don't already have the option of natural burial in you area.

@@helendew5333 Thank you Helen. I am researching any laws and requirements now. I had just learned of this not too long ago, and after watching this video, I am even more so interested in this. I told my girls, when I die, just take me to a mountain forest and bury me there. I know that it isn't that simple in today's world, but I never wanted to be in a cemetery. Again, thank you for all your wisdom and giving of hope. --Tess

Thanks Juan - and for your support for so many years!

Yes, I'm so blessed that Happen Films chose to film my story! It will become a family treasure!

Found the Book Second Hand, it will soon be here❣

Hi Claudia. Thanks for your kind comments!

Thanks for your kind comments. I couldn't agree more - HF is an amazing team - doing really important work!

Whilst I wouldn't wish the depression on anyone, the fact that I experienced it and rose above it has given hope to others.

Thank you for your kind comments. I'm pleased you enjoyed watching the film.

Thank you 🙏

Yes Sarah, documentaries by Happen Films have been a source of inspiration for countless people. Our world is so fortunate to have people such as the HF team whose passion and professionalism is shared so generously.

@@helendew5333 ... And of course, the world is equally fortunate to have you and your inspirational gifts, too! Go raibh míle maith agaibh, go tusa agus Jordon agus Antoinette (as we'd say in Irish) 🙌🏾🌍🌱✨

Yes, I keep going - one day at a time! And what keeps me going is having diverse interests, especially growing my own food, and encouraging others to do the same.

And thank you for watching! Perhaps you'd like to share with your friends.

I hope you can meet her one day and learn more about her philosophy. We need to pass it on to younger generations. Blessings.

That is fantastic ! I hope you have a team of people to work with. What part of the world are you in ?

@@jean6453 I live in the most northern part of California in the US. I write grants to help farmers transition to regenerative agriculture to feed the hungry and get Carbon out of the air and into the soil. Wish me luck.

😢 @MegaSnmail1 thank you for your kind comments. I'm so pleased that you're supporting farmer coops. We also need coops for workers of all kinds, where profits (and losses) are shared among the members. There is a wee booklet published some years ago by the ILO 'the resilience of the cooperative business model in time of crisis' (I hope I've got that title right!)

@@helendew5333 If you run across the name of that book on co-ops I'd love to learn about that. Thank you.

@@helendew5333 Thank you so much I found the little booklet you recommended. All the best in your important work. Be well. Sincerely, Bonnie Wood

Hi Kara. Thanks for your kind comments. I hope to remain active as long as possible. And I'm so fortunate that my brain still functions so that I can continue to encourage others as I become less physically active.

Glad you liked my poem. I guess it reflects the depth of my feeling at that time.

I've no doubt there are other 'Helens' all over the world. I hope you discover one near where you live.

I hope so too Helen. ❤

Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it!

I'm pleased that you liked my story. Thanks for watching!

@@helendew5333 may God give you a long, healthy and blesed life