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Learning to Slow Down: My First Weeks at AuroOrchard

October 2026 · Louise Decq

My first weeks at AuroOrchard have been a mix of discoveries, challenges, and moments of reflection. Coming to India to live and work on a farm has allowed me to experience a different rhythm of life and to start seeing everyday things from another perspective. Although my time working on the farm has been shorter than expected because of an ankle injury, I have already discovered things that have changed the way I look at certain aspects of daily life.

I came here to learn about agriculture, but I am also discovering the pleasure of learning through experience, adapting to situations, and appreciating simple moments. For me, these first few weeks have been less about finding answers and more about learning to observe, trying new things, and understanding what this experience can bring me.

Discovering the Work Behind Food

One of the things that has most changed my perspective is becoming aware of all the work involved in producing food. Before coming here, I was used to eating whatever was prepared or given to me without really thinking about everything that happened before the food reached my plate. Food was simply part of everyday life. I did not necessarily stop to think about the time, energy, and care needed to grow it. Being on a farm is starting to change this perception. Through tasks such as bed weeding, collecting lemons, and working with compost, I have begun to discover some of the work involved in maintaining a farm. These activities may seem simple, but they are part of a much larger process that requires time, effort, and patience.

It is making me realise that food does not simply appear by magic. Behind what we eat, there are people working, plants growing, and many small tasks that need to be completed over time. I am beginning to appreciate the work that often goes unnoticed when we simply sit down to eat. This experience has made me look differently at something I previously took for granted. I would like to become more aware of where my food comes from and develop a greater appreciation for everything that happens before it reaches my plate.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Another aspect of this experience that I have particularly enjoyed is discovering that learning does not necessarily have to take place in a classroom. One example was learning about irrigation and how to repair a component of the system. I found it very satisfying to understand how something works and learn how to fix it. It was a different kind of learning from what I was used to at school: instead of studying information theoretically, I could discover something practical and see how this knowledge could be used in real life. It made me realise how much we can learn by doing things ourselves. Working on a farm means encountering practical problems, understanding how things work, and sometimes figuring out how to repair or improve them. Even small tasks can teach us useful skills and give us a sense of satisfaction.

I like the idea that learning does not stop when we leave school. There are so many things we can discover simply by being curious, trying something new, and learning from the people around us. This is something I would like to continue exploring during my time in India: learning about agriculture while also developing practical skills that I might not otherwise have had the opportunity to acquire.

Small Moments of Connection with Nature

Not every meaningful moment on a farm is necessarily connected to a task or a lesson. Sometimes, it is simply about noticing something unexpected.

One moment that made me happy was seeing a rabbit among the tall plants. It was a very simple encounter, but it stayed in my mind because it reminded me that a farm is not just a place where humans work to produce food. It is also a living environment where other creatures exist alongside us.

Seeing the rabbit made me stop for a moment and appreciate what was happening around me. In the middle of everyday activities, it was a simple reminder to look up, pay attention, and notice the life around me. I think these small moments are important because they encourage us to pay attention to the world in a different way. Instead of focusing only on what we need to accomplish, we can also learn to observe what is happening around us. Sometimes, simply noticing an animal moving among the plants is enough to make an ordinary day feel a little different.

Learning to Adapt to My Limits

These first few weeks have also brought some challenges. One of the main difficulties has been the heat. Working outdoors in a hot climate can be physically demanding, and it has made me more aware of how much energy agricultural work requires. I have also had to deal with an ankle injury, which forced me to stop working on the farm much earlier than expected. Having to slow down and be patient is not always easy, especially when I would like to take part in more activities and continue discovering everything the farm has to offer. This situation has forced me to adapt to circumstances that I cannot immediately change. Instead of doing everything I would like to do, I have to listen to my body, respect its limits, and accept that recovery takes time.

Although this can sometimes be frustrating, the situation is teaching me something important about patience. I cannot always control the pace at which things happen, and forcing myself to continue is not necessarily the best way forward. Sometimes, adapting means accepting that I need to take a step back before I can move forward again. I am learning that taking part does not always mean doing as much as possible. It also means recognising what I can and cannot do at a given moment. I hope that once my ankle has healed, I will be able to return to the farm and discover more about the work and learning opportunities it offers.

Finding Some Distance from My Thoughts Through Physical Work

Despite these challenges, I feel good at the farm. I experience a sense of freedom there, and one of the things I appreciate most is the effect that physical work has on my mind.

In everyday life, I sometimes overthink things and move from one thought to another without really managing to take a break. My mind can be occupied with many things at once, which sometimes makes it difficult to step back from my thoughts.

But when I focus on a physical task, my attention changes. I concentrate on what my hands are doing, the movements I need to make, or the task directly in front of me. My attention shifts towards something concrete that requires me to be involved in what I am doing. For a while, this allows me to gain some distance from everything going on in my mind. My thoughts do not necessarily disappear, but they take up less space because I am focused on something else. Instead of constantly thinking about different things, I can concentrate on the work in front of me.

I find this feeling valuable. It gives me a temporary break from overthinking and allows me to focus more on what is happening around me. I do not necessarily need to make a conscious effort to clear my mind; sometimes, simply taking part in a physical activity is enough to shift my attention.

I do not expect farm work to make all difficulties disappear, but I appreciate these moments when I can gain a little distance from my thoughts. It is something I would like to experience more often during the rest of my time at AuroOrchard.

Continuing to Learn

Although my first weeks at AuroOrchard have been shorter than expected, they have already given me a lot to reflect on. I have started to appreciate the work behind food, discovered the satisfaction of learning practical skills, and become more aware of the importance of patience and adaptability. I have also realised that learning does not always mean gaining knowledge from books or formal lessons. We can learn by repairing an irrigation system, doing bed weeding, collecting lemons, working with compost, or simply noticing a rabbit among the plants. These experiences may seem ordinary, but they have helped me look at everyday life differently.

Over the coming weeks, I hope to recover, return to the farm, and continue discovering new things. I want to learn more about agriculture, develop practical skills, and remain attentive to what this experience teaches me about the world around me and about myself. For now, I am learning that growth takes time, whether it is the growth of a plant or our own personal development. I do not need to understand everything immediately. I can simply continue to take part when I am able to, pay attention, and allow the experience to teach me something, one day at a time.