A strength it has harbored since time immemorial, and one it shares with us. A strength that goes beyond logs we harvest or the herbs we gather. A community event honouring our outstanding landscape through the arts Saturday 17 September, 6.00pm Box Hill My words as a friend will not reach Fufucha now─only a fellow botanist who understands the depths of her worries can heal the wounds in her heart. I beg of you, Forename, speak with this Roiteloin and seek his counsel. In Paul’s farewell message at Ephesus, he said, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there…However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20: 22 -24) Is there not an echo of this message in the history of Guido Ministries? Michael and Audrey, like Paul, had no idea “what would happen to them…only that they would be found faithful to finish the race and complete the task God gave them of testifying the good news of God’s grace.” Only God knew what He had planned for this, His ministry. Over the years, God’s message of the Good News of His love, mercy, grace, salvation, hope, and eternal life has not changed. However, the methods and means of sharing this message continue to grow and be blessed by God – and will continue to grow and be blessed by God – if we are faithful to Him and honor Him in all that we do, and give Him all the glory for all that we accomplish in His Name. Rest easy, Forename. I will remain here at the Growery. How could I not? The forest needs every friend it can muster in these dark times, and it would seem I still have much to learn.

Fufucha has convinced herself that she is doing more harm than good to the natural world she so loves. Preposterous! Has she forgotten the countless trees she planted after the Calamity, journeying far and wide to return lush verdure to our shattered realm? Unlike many other plants, wildflowers need minimal care and usually thrive in poor soils. They pop up against all the odds – and give a helping hand to bees, butterflies and other wildlife too. They're beautiful, they're valuable, and they're survivors – so we think they're just the right messenger to bring a bit of hope in difficult times."Morrisons is giving away 25 million sunflower seeds to customers this week in an effort to spread hope and lift the spirits of the nation. All hope is not lost, however, as I have hit upon an idea. Tell me, Forename, are you familiar with the spruce tree?

We aim to make seeds available through our own Airtable similar to this from London Freedom Seed Bank and will be posted to members for the cost of postage. We encourage members to sow seeds and to save and return some to the library. This way we can increase the amount of locally available open-pollinated seed. I must never forget the lessons I have learned here today. On the contrary, I must share what I have discovered here, that hope might take root again in the hearts of our countrymen. Like the Twelveswood, this forest has suffered greatly in these times of strife. And yet...this forest has strength.

A community event honouring our outstanding landscape through the arts

Well met, Forename. Yannie told me to expect you. I am Roiteloin, a humble botanist plying his trade in these bleak lands. Of course, I understand her worries─these are not easy times for a true seeker of peace and friend to nature. And yet, I cannot help but feel that her emotions cloud her better judgment─that she is not seeing the forest for the trees, if you will. I do not blame you if you are not, as it is a rare sight these days. As Fufucha would tell it, in the years before the Calamity, vast forests of spruce would stretch for malms and malms. John Chambers Wildflower Seed – the first company to commit to donating seeds – donated a large quantity of their beautiful Cornfield Annuals 100% wildflower seed mix. Roiteloin sympathizes deeply with Fufucha's dilemma, and has devised a plan that he believes will lift her spirits and impel her to reconsider her decision. Gather for him three logs of spruce, a type of lumber still rare in these lands. Use the Truth of Forests technique to identify unspoiled mature trees that appear at 9 a.m. (Eorzea time) to harvest spruce logs.

Botany is not simply my livelihood. I consider it my true calling─a calling I would never have discovered were it not for Fufucha's guidance. Needless to say, I was devastated to hear the news. We think this initiative could make a big difference to people's mental health, and hopefully bring smiles to faces. Roiteloin explains that the spruce logs you gathered are sorely needed by the people of Coerthas, many of whom have had their homes razed to the ground by dragon fire. Head due west from the Observatorium and seek out the carpenter who heads the rebuilding effort. After another long period of silence, Michael gently took Audrey’s hand and said, “Dear, let’s ask God to put on our hearts what He wants us to do from now on.” Following a time of prayer together, Michael turned to his beloved wife with another question, “What did the Lord tell you, dear?” You can have a go yourself and bring your hoop along to add to the installation. Diana has created this 1 minute video to explain the simple technique.Harvest is a community gathering at Box Hill. You are invited to a mass picnic at Donkey Green while multiple choirs sing out across the hills and poets recite their specially created works all around a stunning art installation. Your gentle concern for my faltering heart is not lost on me. Nor is the meaning of this forest. The trees themselves speak volumes. Yannie, may Nophica bless her dear heart, tried her best to convince me to stay. Still, I fear my heart is settled. Our aim is to create a patchwork of beauty, colour and wildlife this summer – bringing a bit of joy at a difficult time," said project organiser Serena. Meadow In My Garden is a community interest company with a love of nature, and is committed to helping more people grow wildlife-friendly flower meadows. The company donated some of its bee-friendly seed mix.

Before you set off, be forewarned: spruce is still rare to these parts, and not easily discerned. Only one with knowledge of the Truth of Forests could hope to identify such trees, and then only after straining the eyes from the break of dawn. Our battle with the Ixal rages on, and there are rumblings from the Empire as well. With each passing day, more people die, the soil is stained deeper with blood, and the Twelveswood weeps... David Potts, Morrisons CEO, said:“This has been a very difficult year for our country and this winter has seemed especially dark and tough. So as spring arrives, and with Covid seemingly in retreat, we want to help celebrate the growing sense of national optimism by planting these sunflowers across the UK, representing the brighter and lighter times of hope ahead.” Seeds of Hope is a dream seed sown a few years ago. With a huge increase in demand for locally adapted, open-pollinated seed 2021 seemed the perfect time to launch membership of a seed library. My name's Charlie Gray and I've been saving seed at Horton Community Farm in Bradford for many years now. I continue to grow and save seed here and am also Northern Regional coordinator for Gaia Foundation's Seed Sovereignty programme. Forgive me if I seemed a bit distant the last time we spoke, Forename. Allow me to get straight to the point. I have not come to this decision easily, but I have come to it all the same: as of today, I have resigned from the Botanists' Guild.One day, the editor of a weekly newspaper read a “Seed of Hope” while waiting for his appointment to see his physician. After realizing how the brief devotional brought him a much-needed word of encouragement, he realized that through his paper, he could bring comfort and inspiration to many of his readers who were encountering difficult times in their lives. So, he called The Sower Studio and asked if he could print a “seed” weekly in his paper. His request was honored, and now over 225 newspapers publish one of our “seeds” each week. Fufucha and I have known each other since we were both knee-high to a funguar, and I assure you, her knowledge of and passion for the flora of this realm is second to none. This guild would be absolutely lost without her guidance. Knowing Fufucha as I do, the gesture would mean the most to her if the spruce were harvested by the hand of an apprentice close to her heart─ your hand, Forename. On their long trip home to Metter in an ambulance, Michael broke the silence when he said, “Audrey, we have no assurance of tomorrow, so we need to do more for the Lord each day that he gives us. Other than our evangelistic revivals, what can we do to reach more people with the gospel message? We have just experienced the uncertainties of life and the possibility of death when we least expect it. What else can we do for the Lord?” Oh, Forename. I'm so glad you're here. You spoke to Fufucha, yes? It absolutely breaks my heart to see what's become of my old friend.